sigmamediumHunting

Diskshadow Script Mode Execution

Detects execution of "Diskshadow.exe" in script mode using the "/s" flag. Attackers often abuse "diskshadow" to execute scripts that deleted the shadow copies on the systems. Investigate the content of the scripts and its location.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1218

defense-evasionexecution

Detection Query

selection_img:
  - OriginalFileName: diskshadow.exe
  - Image|endswith: \diskshadow.exe
selection_cli:
  CommandLine|contains|windash: "-s "
condition: all of selection_*

Author

Ivan Dyachkov, oscd.community

Created

2020-10-07

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.t1218attack.executiondetection.threat-hunting

Raw Content

title: Diskshadow Script Mode Execution
id: 0c2f8629-7129-4a8a-9897-7e0768f13ff2
related:
    - id: fa1a7e52-3d02-435b-81b8-00da14dd66c1 # Diskshadow Script Mode - Execution From Potential Suspicious Location
      type: similar
    - id: 1dde5376-a648-492e-9e54-4241dd9b0c7f # Diskshadow Script Mode - Uncommon Script Extension Execution
      type: similar
    - id: 9f546b25-5f12-4c8d-8532-5893dcb1e4b8 # Potentially Suspicious Child Process Of DiskShadow.EXE
      type: similar
    - id: 56b1dde8-b274-435f-a73a-fb75eb81262a # Diskshadow Child Process Spawned
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects execution of "Diskshadow.exe" in script mode using the "/s" flag. Attackers often abuse "diskshadow" to execute scripts that deleted the shadow copies on the systems. Investigate the content of the scripts and its location.
references:
    - https://bohops.com/2018/03/26/diskshadow-the-return-of-vss-evasion-persistence-and-active-directory-database-extraction/
    - https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/credential-access-and-credential-dumping/ntds.dit-enumeration
    - https://medium.com/@cyberjyot/lolbin-execution-via-diskshadow-f6ff681a27a4
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/diskshadow
author: Ivan Dyachkov, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-07
modified: 2024-03-13
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1218
    - attack.execution
    - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - OriginalFileName: 'diskshadow.exe'
        - Image|endswith: '\diskshadow.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '-s '
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Likely from legitimate backup scripts
level: medium