splunk_escuTTP

Executable File Written in Administrative SMB Share

The following analytic detects executable files (.exe or .dll) being written to Windows administrative SMB shares (Admin$, IPC$, C$). It leverages Windows Security Event Logs with EventCode 5145 to identify this activity. This behavior is significant as it is commonly used by tools like PsExec/PaExec for staging binaries before creating and starting services on remote endpoints, a technique often employed for lateral movement and remote code execution. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially compromising additional systems within the network.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1021.002

lateral-movement

Detection Query

`wineventlog_security` EventCode=5145 RelativeTargetName IN ("*.exe","*.dll") ObjectType=File ShareName IN ("\\\\*\\C$","\\\\*\\IPC$","\\\\*\\admin$") AccessMask= "0x2" | stats min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime count by EventCode ShareName RelativeTargetName ObjectType AccessMask src_user src_port IpAddress dest | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`  | `executable_file_written_in_administrative_smb_share_filter`

Author

Teoderick Contreras, Mauricio Velazco, Splunk

Created

2026-03-10

Data Sources

Windows Event Log Security 5145

References

Tags

Active Directory Lateral MovementBlackSuit RansomwareIcedIDPrestige RansomwareIndustroyer2Data DestructionGraceful Wipe Out AttackCompromised Windows HostHermetic WiperTrickbotVanHelsing Ransomware

Raw Content

name: Executable File Written in Administrative SMB Share
id: f63c34fe-a435-11eb-935a-acde48001122
version: 11
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Mauricio Velazco, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects executable files (.exe or .dll) being written to Windows administrative SMB shares (Admin$, IPC$, C$). It leverages Windows Security Event Logs with EventCode 5145 to identify this activity. This behavior is significant as it is commonly used by tools like PsExec/PaExec for staging binaries before creating and starting services on remote endpoints, a technique often employed for lateral movement and remote code execution. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially compromising additional systems within the network.
data_source:
    - Windows Event Log Security 5145
search: '`wineventlog_security` EventCode=5145 RelativeTargetName IN ("*.exe","*.dll") ObjectType=File ShareName IN ("\\\\*\\C$","\\\\*\\IPC$","\\\\*\\admin$") AccessMask= "0x2" | stats min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime count by EventCode ShareName RelativeTargetName ObjectType AccessMask src_user src_port IpAddress dest | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`  | `executable_file_written_in_administrative_smb_share_filter`'
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting Windows Security Event Logs with 5145 EventCode enabled. The Windows TA is also required. Also enable the object Audit access success/failure in your group policy.
known_false_positives: System Administrators may use looks like PsExec for troubleshooting or administrations tasks. However, this will typically come only from certain users and certain systems that can be added to an allow list.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/002/
    - https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2013/03/09/psexec-demystified/
    - https://labs.vipre.com/trickbot-and-its-modules/
    - https://whitehat.eu/incident-response-case-study-featuring-ryuk-and-trickbot-part-2/
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2023/05/22/icedid-macro-ends-in-nokoyawa-ransomware/
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$src_user$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  src_user = "$src_user$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$src_user$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$src_user$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: $src_user$ dropped or created an executable file in known sensitive SMB share.  Share name=$ShareName$, Target name=$RelativeTargetName$, and Access mask=$AccessMask$
    risk_objects:
        - field: src_user
          type: user
          score: 50
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Active Directory Lateral Movement
        - BlackSuit Ransomware
        - IcedID
        - Prestige Ransomware
        - Industroyer2
        - Data Destruction
        - Graceful Wipe Out Attack
        - Compromised Windows Host
        - Hermetic Wiper
        - Trickbot
        - VanHelsing Ransomware
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1021.002
    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/trickbot/exe_smbshare/windows-xml.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Security
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog