sigmamediumHunting

Potential Suspicious Browser Launch From Document Reader Process

Detects when a browser process or browser tab is launched from an application that handles document files such as Adobe, Microsoft Office, etc. And connects to a web application over http(s), this could indicate a possible phishing attempt.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1204.002

execution

Detection Query

selection:
  ParentImage|contains:
    - Acrobat Reader
    - Microsoft Office
    - PDF Reader
  Image|endswith:
    - \brave.exe
    - \chrome.exe
    - \firefox.exe
    - \msedge.exe
    - \opera.exe
    - \maxthon.exe
    - \seamonkey.exe
    - \vivaldi.exe
  CommandLine|contains: http
filter_main_microsoft_help:
  CommandLine|contains: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/
filter_optional_foxit:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - http://ad.foxitsoftware.com/adlog.php?
    - https://globe-map.foxitservice.com/go.php?do=redirect
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

Author

Joseph Kamau

Created

2024-05-27

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.executionattack.t1204.002

Raw Content

title: Potential Suspicious Browser Launch From Document Reader Process
id: 1193d960-2369-499f-a158-7b50a31df682
status: test
description: |
    Detects when a browser process or browser tab is launched from an application that handles document files such as Adobe, Microsoft Office, etc. And connects to a web application over http(s), this could indicate a possible phishing attempt.
references:
    - https://app.any.run/tasks/69c5abaa-92ad-45ba-8c53-c11e23e05d04/ # PDF Document
    - https://app.any.run/tasks/64043a79-165f-4052-bcba-e6e49f847ec1/ # Office Document
author: Joseph Kamau
date: 2024-05-27
modified: 2025-10-07
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1204.002
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|contains:
            - 'Acrobat Reader'
            - 'Microsoft Office'
            - 'PDF Reader'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\brave.exe'
            - '\chrome.exe'
            - '\firefox.exe'
            - '\msedge.exe'
            - '\opera.exe'
            - '\maxthon.exe'
            - '\seamonkey.exe'
            - '\vivaldi.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: 'http'
    filter_main_microsoft_help:
        CommandLine|contains: 'https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/'
    filter_optional_foxit:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'http://ad.foxitsoftware.com/adlog.php?'
            - 'https://globe-map.foxitservice.com/go.php?do=redirect'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely in most cases, further investigation should be done in the commandline of the browser process to determine the context of the URL accessed.
level: medium