Cisco Secure Firewall - Binary File Type Download

name: Cisco Secure Firewall - Binary File Type Download
id: 24b2c2e3-2ff7-4a23-b814-87f8a62028cd
version: 6
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: |
    The following analytic detects file downloads involving executable, archive, or scripting-related file types that are commonly used in malware delivery.
    These file types include formats like PE executables, shell scripts, autorun files, installers, and known testing samples such as EICAR.
    This detection leverages Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense logs and enriches the results using a filetype lookup to provide context.
    If confirmed malicious, these downloads could indicate the initial infection vector, malware staging, or scripting abuse.
data_source:
    - Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense File Event
search: |
    `cisco_secure_firewall` EventType=FileEvent FileDirection="Download"
    FileType IN ("ISHIELD_MSI", "BINHEX", "BINARY_DATA", "ELF", "MACHO", "JARPACK", "TORRENT", "AUTORUN", "EICAR", "LNK", "SCR", "UNIX_SCRIPT")
    | lookup cisco_secure_firewall_filetype_lookup Name as FileType OUTPUT Description
    | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
            values(uri) as uri
            values(ClientApplication) as ClientApplication
            values(file_hash) as file_hash
            values(SHA_Disposition) as SHA_Disposition
            by FileDirection FileType src dest app file_name ThreatName dest_port Description
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | table firstTime lastTime src dest dest_port FileDirection FileType Description uri file_name file_hash app ClientApplication SHA_Disposition ThreatName
    | `cisco_secure_firewall___binary_file_type_download_filter`
how_to_implement: |
    This search requires Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Logs, which
    includes the FileEvent EventType. This search uses an input macro named `cisco_secure_firewall`.
    We strongly recommend that you specify your environment-specific configurations
    (index, source, sourcetype, etc.) for Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense logs. Replace the macro definition
    with configurations for your Splunk environment. The search also uses a post-filter
    macro designed to filter out known false positives.
    The logs are to be ingested using the Splunk Add-on for Cisco Security Cloud (https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/7404).
    The malware & file access policy must also enable logging.
known_false_positives: IT admins or developers may legitimately download executables or scripts as part of their normal workflow. Apply additional filters accordingly.
references:
    - https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/firepower/741/api/FQE/secure_firewall_estreamer_fqe_guide_740.pdf
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$src$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  src = "$src$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$src$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$src$") 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: The host $src$ downloaded a file $file_name$ of type $FileType$ from $dest$.
    risk_objects:
        - field: src
          type: system
          score: 20
    threat_objects:
        - field: file_name
          type: file_name
        - field: file_hash
          type: file_hash
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Analytics
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1203
        - T1059
    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/cisco_secure_firewall_threat_defense/file_event/file_events.log
          source: not_applicable
          sourcetype: cisco:sfw:estreamer