sigmahighHunting

File Download with Headless Browser

Detects execution of chromium based browser in headless mode using the "dump-dom" command line to download files

MITRE ATT&CK

defense-evasioncommand-and-control

Detection Query

selection:
  Image|endswith:
    - \brave.exe
    - \chrome.exe
    - \msedge.exe
    - \opera.exe
    - \vivaldi.exe
  CommandLine|contains|all:
    - --headless
    - dump-dom
    - http
filter_optional_edge_1:
  Image|startswith:
    - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\
    - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeCore\
    - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\
    - C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Edge\Application\
    - C:\Program Files\Microsoft\EdgeCore\
    - C:\Program Files\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\
    - C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge
  Image|endswith:
    - \msedge.exe
    - \msedgewebview2.exe
    - \MicrosoftEdge.exe
  CommandLine|contains: --headless --disable-gpu --disable-extensions
    --disable-plugins --mute-audio --no-first-run --incognito
    --aggressive-cache-discard --dump-dom
filter_optional_edge_2:
  Image|contains:
    - \AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\
    - \Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge
  Image|endswith:
    - \msedge.exe
    - \MicrosoftEdge.exe
  CommandLine|contains: --headless --disable-gpu --disable-extensions
    --disable-plugins --mute-audio --no-first-run --incognito
    --aggressive-cache-discard --dump-dom
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*

Author

Sreeman, Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)

Created

2022-01-04

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.command-and-controlattack.t1105attack.t1564.003

Raw Content

title: File Download with Headless Browser
id: 0e8cfe08-02c9-4815-a2f8-0d157b7ed33e
related:
    - id: ef9dcfed-690c-4c5d-a9d1-482cd422225c
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects execution of chromium based browser in headless mode using the "dump-dom" command line to download files
references:
    - https://twitter.com/mrd0x/status/1478234484881436672?s=12
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/e/managed-xdr-investigation-of-ducktail-in-trend-micro-vision-one.html
author: Sreeman, Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-01-04
modified: 2025-10-07
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1105
    - attack.t1564.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\brave.exe'
            - '\chrome.exe'
            - '\msedge.exe'
            - '\opera.exe'
            - '\vivaldi.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '--headless'
            - 'dump-dom'
            - 'http'
    filter_optional_edge_1:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeCore\'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Edge\Application\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\EdgeCore\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\msedge.exe'
            - '\msedgewebview2.exe'
            - '\MicrosoftEdge.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: '--headless --disable-gpu --disable-extensions --disable-plugins --mute-audio --no-first-run --incognito --aggressive-cache-discard --dump-dom'
    filter_optional_edge_2:
        Image|contains:
            - '\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\'
            - '\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\msedge.exe'
            - '\MicrosoftEdge.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: '--headless --disable-gpu --disable-extensions --disable-plugins --mute-audio --no-first-run --incognito --aggressive-cache-discard --dump-dom'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_browsers_chromium_headless_file_download/info.yml