Java Class File download by Java User Agent

name: Java Class File download by Java User Agent
id: 8281ce42-5c50-11ec-82d2-acde48001122
version: 8
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic identifies a Java user agent performing a GET request for a .class file from a remote site. It leverages web or proxy logs within the Web Datamodel to detect this activity. This behavior is significant as it may indicate exploitation attempts, such as those related to CVE-2021-44228 (Log4Shell). If confirmed malicious, an attacker could exploit vulnerabilities in the Java application, potentially leading to remote code execution and further compromise of the affected system.
data_source:
    - Splunk Stream HTTP
search: |-
    | tstats  `security_content_summariesonly` count FROM datamodel=Web
      WHERE Web.http_user_agent="*Java*" Web.http_method="GET" Web.url="*.class*"
      BY Web.http_user_agent Web.http_method, Web.url,Web.url_length
         Web.src, Web.dest
    | `drop_dm_object_name("Web")`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `java_class_file_download_by_java_user_agent_filter`
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting web or proxy logs, or ensure it is being filled by a proxy like device, into the Web Datamodel. For additional filtering, allow list private IP space or restrict by known good.
known_false_positives: Filtering may be required in some instances, filter as needed.
references:
    - https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/12/as-log4shell-wreaks-havoc-payroll-service-reports-ransomware-attack/
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 Java user agent $http_user_agent$ was performing a $http_method$ to retrieve a remote class file.
    risk_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
    threat_objects:
        - field: http_user_agent
          type: http_user_agent
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Log4Shell CVE-2021-44228
    asset_type: Web Server
    cve:
        - CVE-2021-44228
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1190
    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/java/java.log
          source: stream:http
          sourcetype: stream:http