sigmahighHunting

Suspicious Shells Spawn by Java Utility Keytool

Detects suspicious shell spawn from Java utility keytool process (e.g. adselfservice plus exploitation)

Detection Query

selection:
  ParentImage|endswith: \keytool.exe
  Image|endswith:
    - \cmd.exe
    - \sh.exe
    - \bash.exe
    - \powershell.exe
    - \pwsh.exe
    - \schtasks.exe
    - \certutil.exe
    - \whoami.exe
    - \bitsadmin.exe
    - \wscript.exe
    - \cscript.exe
    - \scrcons.exe
    - \regsvr32.exe
    - \hh.exe
    - \wmic.exe
    - \mshta.exe
    - \rundll32.exe
    - \forfiles.exe
    - \scriptrunner.exe
    - \mftrace.exe
    - \AppVLP.exe
    - \systeminfo.exe
    - \reg.exe
    - \query.exe
condition: selection

Author

Andreas Hunkeler (@Karneades)

Created

2021-12-22

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.initial-accessattack.persistenceattack.privilege-escalation

Raw Content

title: Suspicious Shells Spawn by Java Utility Keytool
id: 90fb5e62-ca1f-4e22-b42e-cc521874c938
status: test
description: Detects suspicious shell spawn from Java utility keytool process (e.g. adselfservice plus exploitation)
references:
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/intelligence-insights-december-2021
    - https://www.synacktiv.com/en/publications/how-to-exploit-cve-2021-40539-on-manageengine-adselfservice-plus.html
author: Andreas Hunkeler (@Karneades)
date: 2021-12-22
modified: 2023-01-21
tags:
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\keytool.exe'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\cmd.exe'
            - '\sh.exe'
            - '\bash.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
            - '\schtasks.exe'
            - '\certutil.exe'
            - '\whoami.exe'
            - '\bitsadmin.exe'
            - '\wscript.exe'
            - '\cscript.exe'
            - '\scrcons.exe'
            - '\regsvr32.exe'
            - '\hh.exe'
            - '\wmic.exe'
            - '\mshta.exe'
            - '\rundll32.exe'
            - '\forfiles.exe'
            - '\scriptrunner.exe'
            - '\mftrace.exe'
            - '\AppVLP.exe'
            - '\systeminfo.exe'
            - '\reg.exe'
            - '\query.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high