Suspicious File Downloaded From File-Sharing Website Via Certutil.EXE

Title: Suspicious File Downloaded From File-Sharing Website Via Certutil.EXE
Status: test
Description:Detects the execution of certutil with certain flags that allow the utility to download files from file-sharing websites.
References:
  -https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/certutil
  -https://forensicitguy.github.io/agenttesla-vba-certutil-download/
  -https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2021/04/13/compromised-exchange-server-hosting-cryptojacker-targeting-other-exchange-servers/
  -https://twitter.com/egre55/status/1087685529016193025
  -https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Certutil/
  -https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/01/17/new-ttps-observed-in-mint-sandstorm-campaign-targeting-high-profile-individuals-at-universities-and-research-orgs/
  -https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/certutil-one-more-gui-lolbin
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Date: 2023-02-15
modified:2026-03-29
Tags:

• -'attack.stealth'
• -'attack.t1027'
• -'attack.command-and-control'
• -'attack.t1105'

Logsource:

• category: process_creation
• product: windows

Detection:
  selection_img:
Image|endswith:'\certutil.exe' OriginalFileName:'CertUtil.exe'   selection_flags:
    CommandLine|contains:
      -'urlcache '
      -'verifyctl '
      -'URL '

  selection_http:
    CommandLine|contains:
      -'.githubusercontent.com'
      -'0x0.st'
      -'anonfiles.com'
      -'bashupload.com'
      -'cdn.discordapp.com'
      -'chunk.io'
      -'ddns.net'
      -'dl.dropboxusercontent.com'
      -'ghostbin.co'
      -'github.com'
      -'glitch.me'
      -'gofile.io'
      -'hastebin.com'
      -'mediafire.com'
      -'mega.nz'
      -'onrender.com'
      -'pages.dev'
      -'paste.ee'
      -'pastebin.com'
      -'pastebin.pl'
      -'pastetext.net'
      -'privatlab.com'
      -'privatlab.net'
      -'send.exploit.in'
      -'sendspace.com'
      -'storage.googleapis.com'
      -'storjshare.io'
      -'supabase.co'
      -'temp.sh'
      -'transfer.sh'
      -'trycloudflare.com'
      -'ufile.io'
      -'w3spaces.com'
      -'workers.dev'
      -'x0.at'

  condition:all of selection_*
Falsepositives:
  -Unknown
Level: high