Detection: Juniper Networks Remote Code Execution Exploit Detection

Updated Date: 2024-05-14 ID: 6cc4cc3d-b10a-4fac-be1e-55d384fc690e Author: Michael Haag, Splunk Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects attempts to exploit a remote code execution vulnerability in Juniper Networks devices. It identifies requests to /webauth_operation.php?PHPRC=*, which are indicative of uploading and executing malicious PHP files. This detection leverages the Web data model, focusing on specific URL patterns and HTTP status codes. This activity is significant because it signals an attempt to gain unauthorized access and execute arbitrary code on the device. If confirmed malicious, the attacker could gain control over the device, leading to data theft, network compromise, or other severe consequences.

1
2| tstats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Web where Web.url IN ("*/webauth_operation.php?PHPRC=*") Web.status=200 by Web.http_user_agent, Web.status Web.http_method, Web.url, Web.url_length, Web.src, Web.dest, sourcetype 
3| `drop_dm_object_name("Web")` 
4| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
5| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
6| `juniper_networks_remote_code_execution_exploit_detection_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source Supported App
Suricata N/A 'suricata' 'suricata' N/A

Macros Used

Name Value
security_content_ctime convert timeformat="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" ctime($field$)
juniper_networks_remote_code_execution_exploit_detection_filter search *
juniper_networks_remote_code_execution_exploit_detection_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK
+ Kill Chain Phases
+ NIST
+ CIS
- Threat Actors
ID Technique Tactic
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Control
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
KillChainPhase.COMMAND_AND_CONTROL
KillChainPhase.DELIVERY
KillChainPhase.INSTALLATION
NistCategory.DE_CM
Cis18Value.CIS_13
APT28
APT29
APT39
APT41
APT5
Axiom
BackdoorDiplomacy
BlackTech
Blue Mockingbird
Cinnamon Tempest
Dragonfly
Earth Lusca
FIN13
FIN7
Fox Kitten
GALLIUM
GOLD SOUTHFIELD
HAFNIUM
Ke3chang
Kimsuky
Magic Hound
Moses Staff
MuddyWater
Rocke
Sandworm Team
Threat Group-3390
ToddyCat
Volatile Cedar
Volt Typhoon
menuPass
APT-C-36
APT18
APT28
APT29
APT3
APT32
APT33
APT37
APT38
APT39
APT41
Ajax Security Team
Andariel
Aquatic Panda
BITTER
BRONZE BUTLER
BackdoorDiplomacy
Chimera
Cinnamon Tempest
Cobalt Group
Confucius
Darkhotel
Dragonfly
Elderwood
Ember Bear
Evilnum
FIN13
FIN7
FIN8
Fox Kitten
GALLIUM
Gamaredon Group
Gorgon Group
HAFNIUM
HEXANE
IndigoZebra
Indrik Spider
Ke3chang
Kimsuky
Lazarus Group
LazyScripter
Leviathan
LuminousMoth
Magic Hound
Metador
Molerats
Moses Staff
MuddyWater
Mustang Panda
Mustard Tempest
Nomadic Octopus
OilRig
PLATINUM
Patchwork
Rancor
Rocke
Sandworm Team
SideCopy
Sidewinder
Silence
TA2541
TA505
TA551
TeamTNT
Threat Group-3390
Tonto Team
Tropic Trooper
Turla
Volatile Cedar
WIRTE
Whitefly
Windshift
Winnti Group
Wizard Spider
ZIRCONIUM
menuPass
APT19
APT32
APT37
APT39
Dragonfly
FIN5
FIN6
FIN7
Fox Kitten
Ke3chang
OilRig
Stealth Falcon
Whitefly
Windigo

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 Notable Yes
Rule Title %name%
Rule Description %description%
Notable Event Fields user, dest
Creates Risk Event True
This configuration file applies to all detections of type TTP. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting and generate Notable Events.

Implementation

To implement this search, ensure that the Web data model is populated. The search is activated when the Web data model is accelerated. Network products, such as Suricata or Palo Alto, need to be mapped to the Web data model. Adjust the mapping as necessary to suit your specific products.

Known False Positives

Be aware of potential false positives - legitimate uses of the /webauth_operation.php endpoint may cause benign activities to be flagged.The URL in the analytic is specific to a successful attempt to exploit the vulnerability. Review contents of the HTTP body to determine if the request is malicious. If the request is benign, add the URL to the whitelist or continue to monitor.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message Risk Score Impact Confidence
This analytic has identified a potential exploitation of a remote code execution vulnerability in Juniper Networks devices on $dest$ on the URL $url$ used for the exploit. 72 90 80
The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation ✅ Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset suricata suricata
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset suricata suricata

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: 2