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.privilege-escalation
13    - attack.persistence
14    - attack.s0013
15    - attack.defense-evasion
16    - attack.t1574.001
17    - detection.emerging-threats
18logsource:
19    category: process_creation
20    product: windows
21detection:
22    selection_cammute:
23        Image|endswith: '\CamMute.exe'
24    filter_cammute:
25        Image|contains:
26            - '\Lenovo\Communication Utility\'
27            - '\Lenovo\Communications Utility\'
28    selection_chrome_frame:
29        Image|endswith: '\chrome_frame_helper.exe'
30    filter_chrome_frame:
31        Image|contains: '\Google\Chrome\application\'
32    selection_devemu:
33        Image|endswith: '\dvcemumanager.exe'
34    filter_devemu:
35        Image|contains: '\Microsoft Device Emulator\'
36    selection_gadget:
37        Image|endswith: '\Gadget.exe'
38    filter_gadget:
39        Image|contains: '\Windows Media Player\'
40    selection_hcc:
41        Image|endswith: '\hcc.exe'
42    filter_hcc:
43        Image|contains: '\HTML Help Workshop\'
44    selection_hkcmd:
45        Image|endswith: '\hkcmd.exe'
46    filter_hkcmd:
47        Image|contains:
48            - '\System32\'
49            - '\SysNative\'
50            - '\SysWow64\'
51    selection_mc:
52        Image|endswith: '\Mc.exe'
53    filter_mc:
54        Image|contains:
55            - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
56            - '\Microsoft SDK'
57            - '\Windows Kit'
58    selection_msmpeng:
59        Image|endswith: '\MsMpEng.exe'
60    filter_msmpeng:
61        Image|contains:
62            - '\Microsoft Security Client\'
63            - '\Windows Defender\'
64            - '\AntiMalware\'
65    selection_msseces:
66        Image|endswith: '\msseces.exe'
67    filter_msseces:
68        Image|contains:
69            - '\Microsoft Security Center\'
70            - '\Microsoft Security Client\'
71            - '\Microsoft Security Essentials\'
72    selection_oinfo:
73        Image|endswith: '\OInfoP11.exe'
74    filter_oinfo:
75        Image|contains: '\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\'
76    selection_oleview:
77        Image|endswith: '\OleView.exe'
78    filter_oleview:
79        Image|contains:
80            - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
81            - '\Microsoft SDK'
82            - '\Windows Kit'
83            - '\Windows Resource Kit\'
84    selection_rc:
85        Image|endswith: '\rc.exe'
86    filter_rc:
87        Image|contains:
88            - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
89            - '\Microsoft SDK'
90            - '\Windows Kit'
91            - '\Windows Resource Kit\'
92            - '\Microsoft.NET\'
93    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 )
94fields:
95    - CommandLine
96    - ParentCommandLine
97falsepositives:
98    - Unknown
99level: high