Potential PlugX Activity

 1title: Potential PlugX Activity
 2id: aeab5ec5-be14-471a-80e8-e344418305c2
 3status: test
 4description: Detects the execution of an executable that is typically used by PlugX for DLL side loading starting from an uncommon location
 5references:
 6    - http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2016/03/10/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-36/
 7    - https://countuponsecurity.com/2017/06/07/threat-hunting-in-the-enterprise-with-appcompatprocessor/
 8author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
 9date: 2017-06-12
10modified: 2023-02-03
11tags:
12    - attack.s0013
13    - attack.defense-evasion
14    - attack.t1574.002
15    - detection.emerging-threats
16logsource:
17    category: process_creation
18    product: windows
19detection:
20    selection_cammute:
21        Image|endswith: '\CamMute.exe'
22    filter_cammute:
23        Image|contains:
24            - '\Lenovo\Communication Utility\'
25            - '\Lenovo\Communications Utility\'
26    selection_chrome_frame:
27        Image|endswith: '\chrome_frame_helper.exe'
28    filter_chrome_frame:
29        Image|contains: '\Google\Chrome\application\'
30    selection_devemu:
31        Image|endswith: '\dvcemumanager.exe'
32    filter_devemu:
33        Image|contains: '\Microsoft Device Emulator\'
34    selection_gadget:
35        Image|endswith: '\Gadget.exe'
36    filter_gadget:
37        Image|contains: '\Windows Media Player\'
38    selection_hcc:
39        Image|endswith: '\hcc.exe'
40    filter_hcc:
41        Image|contains: '\HTML Help Workshop\'
42    selection_hkcmd:
43        Image|endswith: '\hkcmd.exe'
44    filter_hkcmd:
45        Image|contains:
46            - '\System32\'
47            - '\SysNative\'
48            - '\SysWow64\'
49    selection_mc:
50        Image|endswith: '\Mc.exe'
51    filter_mc:
52        Image|contains:
53            - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
54            - '\Microsoft SDK'
55            - '\Windows Kit'
56    selection_msmpeng:
57        Image|endswith: '\MsMpEng.exe'
58    filter_msmpeng:
59        Image|contains:
60            - '\Microsoft Security Client\'
61            - '\Windows Defender\'
62            - '\AntiMalware\'
63    selection_msseces:
64        Image|endswith: '\msseces.exe'
65    filter_msseces:
66        Image|contains:
67            - '\Microsoft Security Center\'
68            - '\Microsoft Security Client\'
69            - '\Microsoft Security Essentials\'
70    selection_oinfo:
71        Image|endswith: '\OInfoP11.exe'
72    filter_oinfo:
73        Image|contains: '\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\'
74    selection_oleview:
75        Image|endswith: '\OleView.exe'
76    filter_oleview:
77        Image|contains:
78            - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
79            - '\Microsoft SDK'
80            - '\Windows Kit'
81            - '\Windows Resource Kit\'
82    selection_rc:
83        Image|endswith: '\rc.exe'
84    filter_rc:
85        Image|contains:
86            - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
87            - '\Microsoft SDK'
88            - '\Windows Kit'
89            - '\Windows Resource Kit\'
90            - '\Microsoft.NET\'
91    condition: ( selection_cammute and not filter_cammute ) or ( selection_chrome_frame and not filter_chrome_frame ) or ( selection_devemu and not filter_devemu ) or ( selection_gadget and not filter_gadget ) or ( selection_hcc and not filter_hcc ) or ( selection_hkcmd and not filter_hkcmd ) or ( selection_mc and not filter_mc ) or ( selection_msmpeng and not filter_msmpeng ) or ( selection_msseces and not filter_msseces ) or ( selection_oinfo and not filter_oinfo ) or ( selection_oleview and not filter_oleview ) or ( selection_rc and not filter_rc )
92fields:
93    - CommandLine
94    - ParentCommandLine
95falsepositives:
96    - Unknown
97level: high