sigmamediumHunting

File Download Using ProtocolHandler.exe

Detects usage of "ProtocolHandler" to download files. Downloaded files will be located in the cache folder (for example - %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE)

MITRE ATT&CK

T1218

defense-evasion

Detection Query

selection_img:
  - Image|endswith: \protocolhandler.exe
  - OriginalFileName: ProtocolHandler.exe
selection_cli:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - ftp://
    - http://
    - https://
condition: all of selection_*

Author

frack113

Created

2021-07-13

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.t1218

Raw Content

title: File Download Using ProtocolHandler.exe
id: 104cdb48-a7a8-4ca7-a453-32942c6e5dcb
status: test
description: |
    Detects usage of "ProtocolHandler" to download files. Downloaded files will be located in the cache folder (for example - %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE)
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1218/T1218.md
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/OtherMSBinaries/ProtocolHandler/
author: frack113
date: 2021-07-13
modified: 2023-11-09
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\protocolhandler.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'ProtocolHandler.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'ftp://'
            - 'http://'
            - 'https://'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium