Registry-Free Process Scope COR_PROFILER

Adversaries may leverage the COR_PROFILER environment variable to hijack the execution flow of programs that load the .NET CLR. The COR_PROFILER is a .NET Framework feature which allows developers to specify an unmanaged (or external of .NET) profiling DLL to be loaded into each .NET process that loads the Common Language Runtime (CLR). These profiliers are designed to monitor, troubleshoot, and debug managed code executed by the .NET CLR. (Citation: Microsoft Profiling Mar 2017) (Citation: Microsoft COR_PROFILER Feb 2013)

Sigma rule (View on GitHub)

 1title: Registry-Free Process Scope COR_PROFILER
 2id: 23590215-4702-4a70-8805-8dc9e58314a2
 3status: test
 4description: |
 5    Adversaries may leverage the COR_PROFILER environment variable to hijack the execution flow of programs that load the .NET CLR.
 6    The COR_PROFILER is a .NET Framework feature which allows developers to specify an unmanaged (or external of .NET) profiling DLL to be loaded into each .NET process that loads the Common Language Runtime (CLR).
 7    These profiliers are designed to monitor, troubleshoot, and debug managed code executed by the .NET CLR.
 8    (Citation: Microsoft Profiling Mar 2017)
 9    (Citation: Microsoft COR_PROFILER Feb 2013)    
10references:
11    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1574.012/T1574.012.md#atomic-test-3---registry-free-process-scope-cor_profiler
12author: frack113
13date: 2021-12-30
14tags:
15    - attack.persistence
16    - attack.t1574.012
17logsource:
18    product: windows
19    category: ps_script
20    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
21detection:
22    selection:
23        ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
24            - '$env:COR_ENABLE_PROFILING'
25            - '$env:COR_PROFILER'
26            - '$env:COR_PROFILER_PATH'
27    condition: selection
28falsepositives:
29    - Legitimate administrative script
30level: medium

References

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