CSC Net On The Fly Compilation

name: CSC Net On The Fly Compilation
id: ea73128a-43ab-11ec-9753-acde48001122
version: 9
date: '2026-02-25'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: Hunting
description: The following analytic detects the use of the .NET compiler csc.exe for on-the-fly compilation of potentially malicious .NET code. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on specific command-line patterns associated with csc.exe. This activity is significant because adversaries and malware often use this technique to evade detection by compiling malicious code at runtime. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to system compromise, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within the network.
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 1
    - Windows Event Log Security 4688
    - CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
search: |-
    | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes
      WHERE (
            Processes.process_name=csc.exe
            OR
            Processes.original_file_name=csc.exe
        )
        Processes.process = "*/noconfig*" Processes.process = "*/fullpaths*" Processes.process = "*@*"
      BY Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name
         Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid
         Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path
         Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid
         Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level
         Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user
         Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product
    | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `csc_net_on_the_fly_compilation_filter`
how_to_implement: The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint` data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed up the data modeling process.
known_false_positives: A network operator or systems administrator may utilize an automated powershell script taht execute .net code that may generate false positive. filter is needed.
references:
    - https://app.any.run/tasks/ad4c3cda-41f2-4401-8dba-56cc2d245488/
    - https://tccontre.blogspot.com/2019/06/maicious-macro-that-compile-c-code-as.html
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Windows Defense Evasion Tactics
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1027.004
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/malware/vilsel/sysmon.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog