DarkGate - Autoit3.EXE Execution Parameters

calendar Oct 26, 2023 · attack.execution attack.t1059 detection.emerging_threats  ·
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Detects execution of the legitimate Autoit3 utility from a suspicious parent process. AutoIt3.exe is used within the DarkGate infection chain to execute shellcode that performs process injection and connects to the DarkGate command-and-control server.

Sigma rule (View on GitHub)

 1title: DarkGate - Autoit3.EXE Execution Parameters
 2id: f8e9aa1c-14f2-4dbd-aa59-b98968ed650d
 3status: experimental
 4description: |
 5    Detects execution of the legitimate Autoit3 utility from a suspicious parent process. AutoIt3.exe is used within
 6    the DarkGate infection chain to execute shellcode that performs process injection and connects to the DarkGate
 7    command-and-control server.    
 8references:
 9    - https://github.security.telekom.com/2023/08/darkgate-loader.html
10    - https://www.kroll.com/en/insights/publications/cyber/microsoft-teams-used-as-initial-access-for-darkgate-malware
11    - https://github.com/pr0xylife/DarkGate/tree/main
12author: Micah Babinski
13date: 2023/10/15
14tags:
15    - attack.execution
16    - attack.t1059
17    - detection.emerging_threats
18logsource:
19    category: process_creation
20    product: windows
21detection:
22    selection_proc:
23        - Image|endswith: '\Autoit3.exe'
24        - OriginalFileName: 'AutoIt3.exe'
25    selection_parent:
26        ParentImage|endswith:
27            - '\cmd.exe'
28            - '\KeyScramblerLogon.exe'
29            - '\msiexec.exe'
30    filter_main_legit_autoit_location:
31        Image|endswith:
32            - ':\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\AutoIt3.exe'
33            - ':\Program Files\AutoIt3\AutoIt3.exe'
34    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
35falsepositives:
36    - Unlikely
37level: high

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