Windows Event Triggered Image File Execution Options Injection

Name:Windows Event Triggered Image File Execution Options Injection
id:f7abfab9-12ea-44e8-8745-475f9ca6e0a4
version:4
date:2024-11-13
author:Michael Haag, Splunk
status:production
type:Hunting
Description:The following analytic identifies the creation or modification of Image File Execution Options (IFEO) registry keys, detected via EventCode 3000 in the Application channel. This detection leverages Windows Event Logs to monitor for process names added to IFEO under specific registry paths. This activity is significant as it can indicate attempts to set traps for process monitoring or debugging, often used by attackers for persistence or evasion. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or manipulate process behavior, leading to potential system compromise.
Data_source:

• -Windows Event Log Application 3000

search:`wineventlog_application` EventCode=3000
| rename param1 AS "Process" param2 AS "Exit_Code"
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by Process Exit_Code dest
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
| `windows_event_triggered_image_file_execution_options_injection_filter`

how_to_implement:This analytic requires capturing the Windows Event Log Application channel in XML.
known_false_positives:False positives may be present and tuning will be required before turning into a TTP or notable.
References:
  -https://blog.thinkst.com/2022/09/sensitive-command-token-so-much-offense.html
  -https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/debugger/registry-entries-for-silent-process-exit
drilldown_searches:
  :
tags:
  analytic_story:
    - 'Windows Persistence Techniques'
  asset_type:Endpoint
  mitre_attack_id:
    - 'T1546.012'
  product:
    - 'Splunk Enterprise'
    - 'Splunk Enterprise Security'
    - 'Splunk Cloud'
  security_domain:endpoint

tests:
 name:'True Positive Test'
 attack_data:
  data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1546.012/atomic_red_team/windows-application.log
  source: XmlWinEventLog:Application
  sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog
manual_test:None