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