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Remote Access Tool - MeshAgent Command Execution via MeshCentral

Detects the use of MeshAgent to execute commands on the target host, particularly when threat actors might abuse it to execute commands directly. MeshAgent can execute commands on the target host by leveraging win-console to obscure their activities and win-dispatcher to run malicious code through IPC with child processes.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1219.002

command-and-control

Detection Query

selection:
  ParentImage|endswith: \meshagent.exe
  Image|endswith:
    - \cmd.exe
    - \powershell.exe
    - \pwsh.exe
condition: selection

Author

@Kostastsale

Created

2024-09-22

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.command-and-controlattack.t1219.002

Raw Content

title: Remote Access Tool - MeshAgent Command Execution via MeshCentral
id: 74a2b202-73e0-4693-9a3a-9d36146d0775
status: test
description: |
    Detects the use of MeshAgent to execute commands on the target host, particularly when threat actors might abuse it to execute commands directly.
    MeshAgent can execute commands on the target host by leveraging win-console to obscure their activities and win-dispatcher to run malicious code through IPC with child processes.
references:
    - https://github.com/Ylianst/MeshAgent
    - https://github.com/Ylianst/MeshAgent/blob/52cf129ca43d64743181fbaf940e0b4ddb542a37/modules/win-dispatcher.js#L173
    - https://github.com/Ylianst/MeshAgent/blob/52cf129ca43d64743181fbaf940e0b4ddb542a37/modules/win-info.js#L55
author: '@Kostastsale'
date: 2024-09-22
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1219.002
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\meshagent.exe'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\cmd.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - False positives can be found in environments using MeshAgent for remote management, analysis should prioritize the grandparent process, MeshAgent.exe, and scrutinize the resulting child processes triggered by any suspicious interactive commands directed at the target host.
level: medium