sigmahighHunting

Sensitive File Dump Via Wbadmin.EXE

Detects the dump of highly sensitive files such as "NTDS.DIT" and "SECURITY" hive. Attackers can leverage the "wbadmin" utility in order to dump sensitive files that might contain credential or sensitive information.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1003.003

credential-access

Detection Query

selection_img:
  - Image|endswith: \wbadmin.exe
  - OriginalFileName: WBADMIN.EXE
selection_backup:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - start
    - backup
selection_path:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - \config\SAM
    - \config\SECURITY
    - \config\SYSTEM
    - \Windows\NTDS\NTDS.dit
condition: all of selection_*

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), frack113

Created

2024-05-10

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.credential-accessattack.t1003.003

Raw Content

title: Sensitive File Dump Via Wbadmin.EXE
id: 8b93a509-1cb8-42e1-97aa-ee24224cdc15
status: test
description: |
    Detects the dump of highly sensitive files such as "NTDS.DIT" and "SECURITY" hive.
    Attackers can leverage the "wbadmin" utility in order to dump sensitive files that might contain credential or sensitive information.
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/2cc01b01132b5c304027a658c698ae09dd6a92bf/yml/OSBinaries/Wbadmin.yml
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Wbadmin/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-recovery
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-backup
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), frack113
date: 2024-05-10
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wbadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'WBADMIN.EXE'
    selection_backup:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'start'
            - 'backup'
    selection_path:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\config\SAM'
            - '\config\SECURITY'
            - '\config\SYSTEM'
            - '\Windows\NTDS\NTDS.dit'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate backup operation by authorized administrators. Matches must be investigated and allowed on a case by case basis.
level: high