windows_indirect_command_execution_via_forfiles.yml

name: Windows Indirect Command Execution Via forfiles
id: 1fdf31c9-ff4d-4c48-b799-0e8666e08787
version: 1
date: '2022-04-05'
author: Eric McGinnis, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects programs that have been started by forfiles.exe.
  According to Microsoft, the 'The forfiles command lets you run a command on or pass
  arguments to multiple files'. While this tool can be used to start legitimate programs,
  usually within the context of a batch script, it has been observed being used to
  evade protections on command line execution.
data_source:
- Sysmon EventID 1
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time)
  as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.parent_process="*forfiles*
  /c *" by Processes.dest Processes.user Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_name
  Processes.process_name Processes.process Processes.process_id Processes.parent_process_id
  Processes.process_path | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
  | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_indirect_command_execution_via_forfiles_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: Some legacy applications may be run using pcalua.exe. Similarly,
  forfiles.exe may be used in legitimate batch scripts.  Filter these results as needed.
references:
- https://twitter.com/KyleHanslovan/status/912659279806640128
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/forfiles
tags:
  analytic_story:
  - Living Off The Land
  - Windows Post-Exploitation
  asset_type: Endpoint
  confidence: 50
  impact: 50
  message: The forfiles command (forfiles.exe) launched the process name -  $process_name$
  mitre_attack_id:
  - T1202
  observable:
  - name: dest
    type: Hostname
    role:
    - Victim
  product:
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  required_fields:
  - _time
  - Processes.dest
  - Processes.user
  - Processes.dest
  - Processes.user
  - Processes.parent_process
  - Processes.parent_process_name
  - Processes.process_name
  - Processes.process
  - Processes.process_id
  - Processes.parent_process_id
  - Processes.process_path
  risk_score: 25
  security_domain: endpoint
tests:
- name: True Positive Test
  attack_data:
  - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1202/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log
    source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
    sourcetype: xmlwineventlog