Self Extracting Package Creation Via Iexpress.EXE From Potentially Suspicious Location

calendar Jun 25, 2024 · attack.defense_evasion attack.t1218  ·
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Detects the use of iexpress.exe to create binaries via Self Extraction Directive (SED) files located in potentially suspicious locations. This behavior has been observed in-the-wild by different threat actors.

Sigma rule (View on GitHub)

 1title: Self Extracting Package Creation Via Iexpress.EXE From Potentially Suspicious Location
 2id: b2b048b0-7857-4380-b0fb-d3f0ab820b71
 3status: experimental
 4description: |
 5    Detects the use of iexpress.exe to create binaries via Self Extraction Directive (SED) files located in potentially suspicious locations.
 6    This behavior has been observed in-the-wild by different threat actors.    
 7references:
 8    - https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/iexpress.exe-D594B2A33EFAFD0EABF09E3FDC05FCEA.html
 9    - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IExpress
10    - https://decoded.avast.io/janvojtesek/raspberry-robins-roshtyak-a-little-lesson-in-trickery/
11    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/602f4ae507fa8de57ada079adff25a6c2a899bd25cd092d0af7e62cdb619c93c/behavior
12author: Joseliyo Sanchez, @Joseliyo_Jstnk, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
13date: 2024/02/05
14modified: 2024/06/04
15tags:
16    - attack.defense_evasion
17    - attack.t1218
18logsource:
19    category: process_creation
20    product: windows
21detection:
22    # VT Query: behavior_processes:"iexpress.exe" and behavior_processes:"/n /q /m" and behavior_processes:"*.sed*" and p:5+
23    selection_img:
24        - Image|endswith: '\iexpress.exe'
25        - OriginalFileName: 'IEXPRESS.exe'
26    selection_cli:
27        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' /n '
28    selection_paths:
29        CommandLine|contains:
30            # Note: Add more uncommon paths that fit your organizational needs.
31            - ':\ProgramData\'
32            - ':\Temp\'
33            - ':\Windows\System32\Tasks\'
34            - ':\Windows\Tasks\'
35            - ':\Windows\Temp\'
36            - '\AppData\Local\Temp\'
37    condition: all of selection_*
38falsepositives:
39    - Administrators building packages using iexpress.exe
40level: high

References

  • iexpress.exe | Wizard

    What is iexpress.exe?


    Read More

  • IExpress - Wikipedia

    IExpress, a component of Windows 2000 and later versions of the operating system, is used to create self-extracting packages from a set of files. Such packages can be used to install software. IExp...


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  • Raspberry Robin’s Roshtyak: A Little Lesson in Trickery - Avast Threat Labs

    We take a deep dive into Roshtyak, the DLL backdoor payload associated with Raspberry Robin. Roshtyak is full of anti-analysis tricks. Some are well-known, and some we have never seen before. From a technical perspective, the lengths Roshtyak takes to protect itself are extremely interesting. Roshtyak belongs to one of the best-protected malware strains we have ever seen. We hope by publishing our research and analysis of the malware and its protection tricks we will help fellow researchers recognize and respond to similar tricks, and harden their analysis environments, making them more resistant to the evasion techniques described.


    Read More

  • VirusTotal

    VirusTotal


    Read More

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