Web JSP Request via URL

name: Web JSP Request via URL
id: 2850c734-2d44-4431-8139-1a56f6f54c01
version: 9
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic identifies URL requests associated with CVE-2022-22965 (Spring4Shell) exploitation attempts, specifically targeting webshell access on a remote webserver. It detects HTTP GET requests with URLs containing ".jsp?cmd=" or "j&cmd=" patterns. This activity is significant as it indicates potential webshell deployment, which can lead to unauthorized remote command execution. If confirmed malicious, attackers could gain control over the webserver, execute arbitrary commands, and potentially escalate privileges, leading to severe data breaches and system compromise.
data_source:
    - Nginx Access
search: |-
    | tstats count FROM datamodel=Web
      WHERE Web.http_method IN ("GET") Web.url IN ("*.jsp?cmd=*","*j&cmd=*")
      BY Web.http_user_agent Web.http_method, Web.url,Web.url_length
         Web.src, Web.dest sourcetype
    | `drop_dm_object_name("Web")`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `web_jsp_request_via_url_filter`
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information on Web traffic that include fields relavent for traffic into the `Web` datamodel.
known_false_positives: False positives may be present with legitimate applications. Attempt to filter by dest IP or use Asset groups to restrict to servers.
references:
    - https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/04/04/springshell-rce-vulnerability-guidance-for-protecting-against-and-detecting-cve-2022-22965/
    - https://github.com/TheGejr/SpringShell
    - https://www.tenable.com/blog/spring4shell-faq-spring-framework-remote-code-execution-vulnerability
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$") 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: A suspicious URL has been requested against $dest$ by $src$, related to web shell activity.
    risk_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
    threat_objects:
        - field: src
          type: ip_address
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Spring4Shell CVE-2022-22965
        - Earth Alux
    asset_type: Web Server
    cve:
        - CVE-2022-22965
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1133
        - T1190
        - T1505.003
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: network
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1190/spring4shell/spring4shell_nginx.log
          source: /var/log/nginx/access.log
          sourcetype: nginx:plus:kv