Cisco ASA - Device File Copy to Remote Location

name: Cisco ASA - Device File Copy to Remote Location
id: 8a9e5f2b-6d4c-4e7f-9b3a-1c8d7f5e2a9b
version: 3
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: |
    This analytic detects file copy operations to remote locations on Cisco ASA devices via CLI or ASDM.
    Adversaries may exfiltrate device files including configurations, logs, packet captures, or system data to remote servers using protocols like TFTP, FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMB, or SCP. While legitimate backups to centralized servers are common, copies to unexpected destinations may indicate data exfiltration to attacker-controlled infrastructure.
    The detection monitors for command execution events (message ID 111008 or 111010) containing copy commands with remote protocol indicators (tftp:, ftp:, http:, https:, smb:, scp:).
    Investigate copies to unexpected destinations, from non-administrative accounts, or outside approved maintenance windows.
    We recommend adapting the detection filters to exclude known legitimate backup activities.
data_source:
    - Cisco ASA Logs
search: |
    `cisco_asa`
    message_id IN (111008, 111010)
    command = "copy *"
    command IN (
        "*running-config*",
        "*startup-config*",
        "*/pcap capture:*",
        "* disk0:*",
        "* flash:*",
        "* system:*"
    )
    command IN (
        "*ftp:*",
        "*http:*",
        "*https:*",
        "*smb:*",
        "*scp:*"
    )

    | eval remote_protocol = mvappend(
      if(match(command, "tftp:"), "TFTP", null()),
      if(match(command, "ftp:"), "FTP", null()),
      if(match(command, "http:"), "HTTP", null()),
      if(match(command, "https:"), "HTTPS", null()),
      if(match(command, "smb:"), "SMB", null()),
      if(match(command, "scp:"), "SCP", null())
      )
    | fillnull
    | stats earliest(_time) as firstTime
            latest(_time) as lastTime
            values(user) as user
            values(action) as action
            values(message_id) as message_id
            values(command) as command
            values(remote_protocol) as remote_protocol
            values(src_ip) as src_ip
            values(dest) as dest
            values(process_name) as process_name
      by host
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `cisco_asa___device_file_copy_to_remote_location_filter`
how_to_implement: |
    This search requires Cisco ASA syslog data to be ingested into Splunk via the Cisco Security Cloud TA.
    To ensure this detection works effectively, configure your ASA and FTD devices to generate and forward message IDs 111008 and 111010.
    If your logging level is set to 'Notifications' or higher, these messages should already be included, else we recommend setting an event list that keeps the severity level you are using and add message IDs 111008 and 111010.
    You can find specific instructions on how to set this up here : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/security/pix-500-series-security-appliances/63884-config-asa-00.html.
    You can also change the severity level of the above message id's to the syslog level you have currently enabled using the logging message syslog_id level severity_level command in global configuration mode. For more information, see Change the Severity Level of a Syslog Message : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/asa/asa922/configuration/general/asa-922-general-config/monitor-syslog.html#ID-2121-000006da
known_false_positives: |
    Legitimate configuration exports to remote locations may occur during normal administrative activities.
    Investigate these events to verify their legitimacy and apply necessary filters.
references:
    - https://community.cisco.com/t5/security-knowledge-base/asa-how-to-download-images-using-tftp-ftp-http-https-and-scp/ta-p/3109769
    - https://blog.talosintelligence.com/arcanedoor-new-espionage-focused-campaign-found-targeting-perimeter-network-devices/
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for $host$
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  host = $host$'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for $host$
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ($host$) starthoursago=168 endhoursago=1 | 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: User $user$ executed command $command$ to copy file or config from Cisco ASA host $host$ to remote location $dest$ via $remote_protocol$ protocols.
    risk_objects:
        - field: host
          type: system
          score: 20
        - field: user
          type: user
          score: 20
    threat_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: ip_address
        - field: command
          type: process
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Suspicious Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance Activity
        - ArcaneDoor
    asset_type: Network
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1005
        - T1041
        - T1048.003
    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/cisco_asa/generic/cisco_asa_generic_logs.log
          source: not_applicable
          sourcetype: cisco:asa