Windows BitLockerToGo Process Execution

name: Windows BitLockerToGo Process Execution
id: 68cbc9e9-2882-46f2-b636-3b5080589d58
version: 6
date: '2026-02-25'
author: Michael Haag, Nasreddine Bencherchali, Splunk
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 1
    - Windows Event Log Security 4688
type: Hunting
status: production
description: The following analytic detects BitLockerToGo.exe execution, which has been observed being abused by Lumma stealer malware. The malware leverages this legitimate Windows utility to manipulate registry keys, search for cryptocurrency wallets and credentials, and exfiltrate sensitive data. This activity is significant because BitLockerToGo.exe provides functionality for viewing, copying, and writing files as well as modifying registry branches - capabilities that the Lumma stealer exploits. However, note that if legitimate use of BitLockerToGo.exe is in the organization, this detection will
search: |-
    | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes
      WHERE Processes.process_name=bitlockertogo.exe
      BY Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name
         Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid
         Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path
         Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid
         Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level
         Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user
         Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product
    | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `windows_bitlockertogo_process_execution_filter`
how_to_implement: The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint` data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed up the data modeling process.
known_false_positives: False positives are likely, as BitLockerToGo.exe is a legitimate Windows utility used for managing BitLocker encryption. However, monitor for usage of BitLockerToGo.exe in your environment, tune as needed. If BitLockerToGo.exe is not used in your environment, move to TTP.
references:
    - https://securelist.com/fake-captcha-delivers-lumma-amadey/114312/
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Lumma Stealer
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1218
    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/attack_techniques/T1218/bitlockertogo/4688_bitlockertogo_windows-security.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Security
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog