sigmamediumHunting

Potentially Suspicious Cabinet File Expansion

Detects the expansion or decompression of cabinet files from potentially suspicious or uncommon locations, e.g. seen in Iranian MeteorExpress related attacks

MITRE ATT&CK

T1218

defense-evasion

Detection Query

selection_cmd:
  Image|endswith: \expand.exe
  CommandLine|contains|windash: "-F:"
selection_folders_1:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - :\Perflogs\
    - :\ProgramData
    - :\Users\Public\
    - :\Windows\Temp\
    - \Admin$\
    - \AppData\Local\Temp\
    - \AppData\Roaming\
    - \C$\
    - \Temporary Internet
selection_folders_2:
  - CommandLine|contains|all:
      - :\Users\
      - \Favorites\
  - CommandLine|contains|all:
      - :\Users\
      - \Favourites\
  - CommandLine|contains|all:
      - :\Users\
      - \Contacts\
filter_optional_dell:
  ParentImage: C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\UpdateService\ServiceShell.exe
  CommandLine|contains: C:\ProgramData\Dell\UpdateService\Temp\
condition: selection_cmd and 1 of selection_folders_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

Author

Bhabesh Raj, X__Junior (Nextron Systems)

Created

2021-07-30

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.t1218

Raw Content

title: Potentially Suspicious Cabinet File Expansion
id: 9f107a84-532c-41af-b005-8d12a607639f
status: test
description: Detects the expansion or decompression of cabinet files from potentially suspicious or uncommon locations, e.g. seen in Iranian MeteorExpress related attacks
references:
    - https://labs.sentinelone.com/meteorexpress-mysterious-wiper-paralyzes-iranian-trains-with-epic-troll
    - https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-intelligence/2021/08/new-variant-of-konni-malware-used-in-campaign-targetting-russia/
author: Bhabesh Raj, X__Junior (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-07-30
modified: 2024-11-13
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_cmd:
        Image|endswith: '\expand.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '-F:'
    selection_folders_1:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ':\Perflogs\'
            - ':\ProgramData'
            - ':\Users\Public\'
            - ':\Windows\Temp\'
            - '\Admin$\'
            - '\AppData\Local\Temp\'
            - '\AppData\Roaming\'
            - '\C$\'
            - '\Temporary Internet'
    selection_folders_2:
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Favorites\'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Favourites\'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Contacts\'
    filter_optional_dell:
        # Launched by Dell ServiceShell.exe
        ParentImage: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\UpdateService\ServiceShell.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: 'C:\ProgramData\Dell\UpdateService\Temp\'
    condition: selection_cmd and 1 of selection_folders_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - System administrator Usage
level: medium