File Encoded To Base64 Via Certutil.EXE
Detects the execution of certutil with the "encode" flag to encode a file to base64. This can be abused by threat actors and attackers for data exfiltration
Sigma rule (View on GitHub)
1title: File Encoded To Base64 Via Certutil.EXE
2id: e62a9f0c-ca1e-46b2-85d5-a6da77f86d1a
3status: test
4description: Detects the execution of certutil with the "encode" flag to encode a file to base64. This can be abused by threat actors and attackers for data exfiltration
5references:
6 - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/certutil
7 - https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-babyshark-malware-targets-u-s-national-security-think-tanks/
8 - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Certutil/
9author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
10date: 2019/02/24
11modified: 2024/03/05
12tags:
13 - attack.defense_evasion
14 - attack.t1027
15logsource:
16 category: process_creation
17 product: windows
18detection:
19 selection_img:
20 - Image|endswith: '\certutil.exe'
21 - OriginalFileName: 'CertUtil.exe'
22 selection_cli:
23 CommandLine|contains|windash: '-encode'
24 condition: all of selection_*
25falsepositives:
26 - As this is a general purpose rule, legitimate usage of the encode functionality will trigger some false positives. Apply additional filters accordingly
27level: medium
References
Related rules
- Certificate Exported Via Certutil.EXE
- File Decoded From Base64/Hex Via Certutil.EXE
- File In Suspicious Location Encoded To Base64 Via Certutil.EXE
- Suspicious File Encoded To Base64 Via Certutil.EXE
- Suspicious File Downloaded From File-Sharing Website Via Certutil.EXE