Name:Remote Process Instantiation via DCOM and PowerShell Script Block id:fa1c3040-4680-11ec-a618-3e22fbd008af version:4 date:2024-09-30 author:Mauricio Velazco, Splunk status:production type:TTP Description:The following analytic detects the execution of PowerShell commands that initiate a process on a remote endpoint via the DCOM protocol. It leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging (EventCode=4104) to identify the use of ShellExecute and ExecuteShellCommand. This activity is significant as it may indicate lateral movement or remote code execution attempts by adversaries. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on remote systems, potentially leading to further compromise and persistence within the network. Data_source:
-Powershell Script Block Logging 4104
search:`powershell` EventCode=4104 (ScriptBlockText="*Document.Application.ShellExecute*" OR ScriptBlockText="*Document.ActiveView.ExecuteShellCommand*") | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by EventCode ScriptBlockText Computer user_id | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `remote_process_instantiation_via_dcom_and_powershell_script_block_filter`
how_to_implement:To successfully implement this analytic, you will need to enable PowerShell Script Block Logging on some or all endpoints. Additional setup instructions can be found https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/UBA/5.0.4.1/GetDataIn/AddPowerShell#Configure_module_logging_for_PowerShell. known_false_positives:Administrators may leverage DCOM to start a process on remote systems, but this activity is usually limited to a small set of hosts or users. References: -https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/003/ -https://www.cybereason.com/blog/dcom-lateral-movement-techniques drilldown_searches: name:'View the detection results for - "$Computer$"' search:'%original_detection_search% | search Computer = "$Computer$"' earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$' latest_offset:'$info_max_time$' name:'View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$Computer$"' search:'| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$Computer$") starthoursago=168 | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`' earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$' latest_offset:'$info_max_time$' tags: analytic_story: - 'Active Directory Lateral Movement' asset_type:Endpoint confidence:70 impact:90 message:A process was started on a remote endpoint from $Computer$ by abusing WMI using PowerShell.exe mitre_attack_id: - 'T1021' - 'T1021.003' observable: name:'Computer' type:'Endpoint' - role: - 'Victim' product: - 'Splunk Enterprise' - 'Splunk Enterprise Security' - 'Splunk Cloud' required_fields: - '_time' - 'EventCode' - 'ScriptBlockText' - 'Computer' - 'user_id' risk_score:63 security_domain:endpoint
