Techniques
Sample rules
Windows ConHost with Headless Argument
- source: splunk
- technicques:
- T1564.003
- T1564.006
Description
The following analytic detects the unusual invocation of the Windows Console Host process (conhost.exe) with the undocumented –headless parameter. This detection leverages Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) telemetry, specifically monitoring for command-line executions where conhost.exe is executed with the –headless argument. This activity is significant for a SOC as it is not commonly used in legitimate operations and may indicate an attacker’s attempt to execute commands stealthily. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could lead to persistence, lateral movement, or other malicious activities, potentially resulting in data exfiltration or system compromise.
Detection logic
| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_name=conhost.exe Processes.process="*--headless *" by Processes.dest Processes.user Processes.parent_process Processes.process_name Processes.process Processes.process_id Processes.parent_process_id
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
| `windows_conhost_with_headless_argument_filter`
Windows AutoIt3 Execution
- source: splunk
- technicques:
- T1059
Description
The following analytic detects the execution of AutoIt3, a scripting language often used for automating Windows GUI tasks and general scripting. It identifies instances where AutoIt3 or its variants are executed by searching for process names or original file names matching ‘autoit3.exe’. This activity is significant because attackers frequently use AutoIt3 to automate malicious actions, such as executing malware. If confirmed malicious, this activity could lead to unauthorized code execution, system compromise, or further propagation of malware within the environment.
Detection logic
| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_name IN ("autoit3.exe", "autoit*.exe") OR Processes.original_file_name IN ("autoit3.exe", "autoit*.exe") by Processes.dest Processes.user Processes.parent_process_name Processes.process_name Processes.original_file_name Processes.process Processes.process_id Processes.parent_process_id
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
| `windows_autoit3_execution_filter`