it is uncommon for normal users to execute a series of commands used for network discovery. system administrators often use scripts to execute these commands. these can generate false positives.

Techniques

T1016

Sample rules

Detect processes used for System Network Configuration Discovery

source: splunk
technicques:
- T1016

Description

The following analytic identifies the rapid execution of processes used for system network configuration discovery on an endpoint. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process GUIDs, names, parent processes, and command-line executions. This activity is significant as it may indicate an attacker attempting to map the network, which is a common precursor to lateral movement or further exploitation. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could allow an attacker to gain insights into the network topology, identify critical systems, and plan subsequent attacks, potentially leading to data exfiltration or system compromise.

Detection logic


| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count values(Processes.process) as process values(Processes.parent_process) as parent_process min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where NOT Processes.user IN ("","unknown") by Processes.dest Processes.process_name Processes.parent_process_name Processes.user _time 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
| search `system_network_configuration_discovery_tools` 
| transaction dest connected=false maxpause=5m 
|where eventcount>=5 
| table firstTime lastTime dest user process_name process parent_process parent_process_name eventcount 
| `detect_processes_used_for_system_network_configuration_discovery_filter`