Unusual Process Writing Data to an External Device

calendar May 28, 2024 · Use Case: Data Exfiltration Detection Rule Type: ML Rule Type: Machine Learning Tactic: Exfiltration  ·
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A machine learning job has detected a rare process writing data to an external device. Malicious actors often use benign-looking processes to mask their data exfiltration activities. The discovery of such a process that has no legitimate reason to write data to external devices can indicate exfiltration.

Elastic rule (View on GitHub)

 1[metadata]
 2creation_date = "2023/09/22"
 3integration = ["ded", "endpoint"]
 4maturity = "production"
 5updated_date = "2024/05/21"
 6
 7[rule]
 8anomaly_threshold = 75
 9author = ["Elastic"]
10description = """
11A machine learning job has detected a rare process writing data to an external device. Malicious actors often use
12benign-looking processes to mask their data exfiltration activities. The discovery of such a process that has no
13legitimate reason to write data to external devices can indicate exfiltration.
14"""
15from = "now-2h"
16interval = "15m"
17license = "Elastic License v2"
18machine_learning_job_id = "ded_rare_process_writing_to_external_device"
19name = "Unusual Process Writing Data to an External Device"
20references = [
21    "https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/prebuilt-ml-jobs.html",
22    "https://docs.elastic.co/en/integrations/ded",
23    "https://www.elastic.co/blog/detect-data-exfiltration-activity-with-kibanas-new-integration",
24]
25risk_score = 21
26rule_id = "4b95ecea-7225-4690-9938-2a2c0bad9c99"
27setup = """## Setup
28
29The rule requires the Data Exfiltration Detection integration assets to be installed, as well as network and file events collected by integrations such as Elastic Defend and Network Packet Capture (for network events only).  
30
31### Data Exfiltration Detection Setup
32The Data Exfiltration Detection integration detects data exfiltration activity by identifying abnormalities in network and file events. Anomalies are detected using Elastic's Anomaly Detection feature. 
33
34#### Prerequisite Requirements:
35- Fleet is required for Data Exfiltration Detection.
36- To configure Fleet Server refer to the [documentation](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/fleet/current/fleet-server.html).
37- File events collected by the Elastic Defend integration.
38- To install Elastic Defend, refer to the [documentation](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/install-endpoint.html).
39
40#### The following steps should be executed to install assets associated with the Data Exfiltration Detection integration:
41- Go to the Kibana homepage. Under Management, click Integrations.
42- In the query bar, search for Data Exfiltration Detection and select the integration to see more details about it.
43- Follow the instructions under the **Installation** section.
44- For this rule to work, complete the instructions through **Add preconfigured anomaly detection jobs**.
45"""
46severity = "low"
47tags = [
48    "Use Case: Data Exfiltration Detection",
49    "Rule Type: ML",
50    "Rule Type: Machine Learning",
51    "Tactic: Exfiltration",
52]
53type = "machine_learning"
54[[rule.threat]]
55framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
56[[rule.threat.technique]]
57id = "T1052"
58name = "Exfiltration Over Physical Medium"
59reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1052/"
60
61
62[rule.threat.tactic]
63id = "TA0010"
64name = "Exfiltration"
65reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0010/"

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