sigmahighHunting

Potential CobaltStrike Process Patterns

Detects potential process patterns related to Cobalt Strike beacon activity

MITRE ATT&CK

execution

Detection Query

selection_generic_1:
  CommandLine|endswith: cmd.exe /C whoami
  ParentImage|startswith: C:\Temp\
selection_generic_2:
  ParentImage|endswith:
    - \runonce.exe
    - \dllhost.exe
  CommandLine|contains|all:
    - cmd.exe /c echo
    - "> \\\\\\\\.\\\\pipe"
selection_conhost_1:
  ParentCommandLine|contains|all:
    - cmd.exe /C echo
    - " > \\\\\\\\.\\\\pipe"
  CommandLine|endswith: conhost.exe 0xffffffff -ForceV1
selection_conhost_2:
  ParentCommandLine|endswith: /C whoami
  CommandLine|endswith: conhost.exe 0xffffffff -ForceV1
condition: 1 of selection_*

Author

Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2021-07-27

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.executionattack.t1059

Raw Content

title: Potential CobaltStrike Process Patterns
id: f35c5d71-b489-4e22-a115-f003df287317
status: test
description: Detects potential process patterns related to Cobalt Strike beacon activity
references:
    - https://hausec.com/2021/07/26/cobalt-strike-and-tradecraft/
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/08/29/cobalt-strike-a-defenders-guide/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-07-27
modified: 2023-03-29
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_generic_1:
        CommandLine|endswith: 'cmd.exe /C whoami'
        ParentImage|startswith: 'C:\Temp\'
    selection_generic_2:
        ParentImage|endswith:
            - '\runonce.exe'
            - '\dllhost.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'cmd.exe /c echo'
            - '> \\\\.\\pipe'
    selection_conhost_1:
        ParentCommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'cmd.exe /C echo'
            - ' > \\\\.\\pipe'
        CommandLine|endswith: 'conhost.exe 0xffffffff -ForceV1'
    selection_conhost_2:
        ParentCommandLine|endswith: '/C whoami'
        CommandLine|endswith: 'conhost.exe 0xffffffff -ForceV1'
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high