ID | Technique | Tactic |
---|---|---|
T1203 | Exploitation for Client Execution | Execution |
T1059 | Command and Scripting Interpreter | Execution |
Detection: Cisco Secure Firewall - Binary File Type Download
Description
The following analytic detects file downloads involving executable, archive, or scripting-related file types that are commonly used in malware delivery. These file types include formats like PE executables, shell scripts, autorun files, installers, and known testing samples such as EICAR. This detection leverages Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense logs and enriches the results using a filetype lookup to provide context. If confirmed malicious, these downloads could indicate the initial infection vector, malware staging, or scripting abuse.
Search
1`cisco_secure_firewall` EventType=FileEvent FileDirection="Download"
2FileType IN ("ISHIELD_MSI", "BINHEX", "BINARY_DATA", "ELF", "MACHO", "JARPACK", "TORRENT", "AUTORUN", "EICAR", "LNK", "SCR", "UNIX_SCRIPT")
3
4| lookup cisco_secure_firewall_filetype_lookup Name as FileType OUTPUT Description
5
6| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
7 values(uri) as uri
8 values(ClientApplication) as ClientApplication
9 values(file_hash) as file_hash
10 values(SHA_Disposition) as SHA_Disposition
11 by FileDirection FileType src_ip dest app file_name ThreatName dest_port Description
12
13| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
14
15| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
16
17| table firstTime lastTime src_ip dest dest_port FileDirection FileType Description uri file_name file_hash app ClientApplication SHA_Disposition ThreatName
18
19| `cisco_secure_firewall___binary_file_type_download_filter`
Data Source
Name | Platform | Sourcetype | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense File Event | N/A | 'cisco:sfw:estreamer' |
'not_applicable' |
Macros Used
Name | Value |
---|---|
cisco_secure_firewall | sourcetype="cisco:sfw:estreamer" |
cisco_secure_firewall___binary_file_type_download_filter | search * |
cisco_secure_firewall___binary_file_type_download_filter
is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.
Annotations
Default Configuration
This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:
Setting | Value |
---|---|
Disabled | true |
Cron Schedule | 0 * * * * |
Earliest Time | -70m@m |
Latest Time | -10m@m |
Schedule Window | auto |
Creates Risk Event | True |
Implementation
This search requires Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Logs, which
includes the FileEvent EventType. This search uses an input macro named cisco_secure_firewall
.
We strongly recommend that you specify your environment-specific configurations
(index, source, sourcetype, etc.) for Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense logs. Replace the macro definition
with configurations for your Splunk environment. The search also uses a post-filter
macro designed to filter out known false positives.
The logs are to be ingested using the Splunk Add-on for Cisco Security Cloud (https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/7404).
The malware & file access policy must also enable logging.
Known False Positives
IT admins or developers may legitimately download executables or scripts as part of their normal workflow. Apply additional filters accordingly.
Associated Analytic Story
Risk Based Analytics (RBA)
Risk Message:
The host $src_ip$ downloaded a file $file_name$ of type $FileType$ from $dest$.
Risk Object | Risk Object Type | Risk Score | Threat Objects |
---|---|---|---|
src_ip | system | 30 | file_hash, file_name |
References
Detection Testing
Test Type | Status | Dataset | Source | Sourcetype |
---|---|---|---|---|
Validation | ✅ Passing | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Unit | ✅ Passing | Dataset | not_applicable |
cisco:sfw:estreamer |
Integration | ✅ Passing | Dataset | not_applicable |
cisco:sfw:estreamer |
Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py
tool or the UI.
Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range
Source: GitHub | Version: 1