Remote Process Instantiation via WinRM and PowerShell Script Block

Original Source: [splunk source]
Name:Remote Process Instantiation via WinRM and PowerShell Script Block
id:7d4c618e-4716-11ec-951c-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 use the `Invoke-Command` cmdlet to start a process on a remote endpoint via the WinRM protocol. It leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging (EventCode=4104) to identify such activities. This behavior is significant as it may indicate lateral movement or remote code execution attempts by adversaries. If confirmed malicious, this activity 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="*Invoke-Command*" AND ScriptBlockText="*-ComputerName*")
| 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_winrm_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 WinRM and `Invoke-Command` to start a process on remote systems for system administration or automation use cases. This activity is usually limited to a small set of hosts or users. In certain environments, tuning may not be possible.
References:
  -https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/006/
  -https://pentestlab.blog/2018/05/15/lateral-movement-winrm/
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:50
  impact:90
  message:A process was started on a remote endpoint from $Computer$ by abusing WinRM using PowerShell.exe
  mitre_attack_id:
    - 'T1021'
    - 'T1021.006'
  observable:
    name:'Computer'
    type:'Endpoint'
    - role:
      - 'Victim'
  product:
    - 'Splunk Enterprise'
    - 'Splunk Enterprise Security'
    - 'Splunk Cloud'
  required_fields:
    - '_time'
    - 'ScriptBlockText'
    - 'Opcode'
    - 'Computer'
    - 'UserID'
    - 'EventCode'
  risk_score:45
  security_domain:endpoint

tests:
name:'True Positive Test'
 attack_data:
  data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1021.006/lateral_movement_psh/windows-powershell-xml.log
  source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational
  sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog
manual_test:None

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