Recon Using WMI Class

name: Recon Using WMI Class
id: 018c1972-ca07-11eb-9473-acde48001122
version: 14
date: '2026-03-31'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic detects suspicious PowerShell activity via EventCode 4104, where WMI performs event queries to gather information on running processes or services. This detection leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging to identify specific WMI queries targeting system information classes like Win32_Bios and Win32_OperatingSystem. This activity is significant as it often indicates reconnaissance efforts by an adversary to profile the compromised machine. If confirmed malicious, the attacker could gain detailed system information, aiding in further exploitation or lateral movement within the network.
data_source:
    - Powershell Script Block Logging 4104
search: |-
    `powershell` EventCode=4104 AND ScriptBlockText IN ("*SELECT*", "*Get-WmiObject*") AND ScriptBlockText IN ("*Win32_Bios*", "*Win32_OperatingSystem*", "*Win32_Processor*", "*Win32_ComputerSystem*", "*Win32_PnPEntity*", "*Win32_ShadowCopy*", "*Win32_DiskDrive*", "*Win32_PhysicalMemory*", "*Win32_BaseBoard*", "*Win32_DisplayConfiguration*")
      | fillnull
      | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
        BY dest signature signature_id
           user_id vendor_product EventID
           Guid Opcode Name
           Path ProcessID ScriptBlockId
           ScriptBlockText
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | `recon_using_wmi_class_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 here https://help.splunk.com/en/security-offerings/splunk-user-behavior-analytics/get-data-in/5.4.1/add-other-data-to-splunk-uba/configure-powershell-logging-to-see-powershell-anomalies-in-splunk-uba.
known_false_positives: network administrator may used this command for checking purposes
references:
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2020/05/12/maze-ransomware-1-year-counting/
    - https://help.splunk.com/en/security-offerings/splunk-user-behavior-analytics/get-data-in/5.4.1/add-other-data-to-splunk-uba/configure-powershell-logging-to-see-powershell-anomalies-in-splunk-uba.
    - https://blog.palantir.com/tampering-with-windows-event-tracing-background-offense-and-defense-4be7ac62ac63
    - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/552092d5e4b0661088167e5c/t/59c1814829f18782e24f1fe2/1505853768977/Windows+PowerShell+Logging+Cheat+Sheet+ver+Sept+2017+v2.1.pdf
    - https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/investigating-powershell-command-and-script-logging/
    - https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/security/hunting-for-malicious-powershell-using-script-block-logging.html
    - https://www.welivesecurity.com/2022/04/12/industroyer2-industroyer-reloaded/
    - https://blogs.vmware.com/security/2022/10/lockbit-3-0-also-known-as-lockbit-black.html
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$dest$" and "$user_id$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$" user_id = "$user_id$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$" and "$user_id$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$", "$user_id$") 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: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: A suspicious powershell script contains host recon commands detected on host $dest$
    risk_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 20
        - field: user_id
          type: user
          score: 20
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Hermetic Wiper
        - Quasar RAT
        - Malicious PowerShell
        - Data Destruction
        - AsyncRAT
        - MoonPeak
        - LockBit Ransomware
        - Malicious Inno Setup Loader
        - Qakbot
        - Industroyer2
        - Scattered Spider
        - BlankGrabber Stealer
        - Axios Supply Chain Post Compromise
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1592
        - T1059.001
    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/T1059.001/powershell_script_block_logging/reconusingwmi.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog