Name:Windows Process With NetExec Command Line Parameters id:adbff89c-c1f2-4a2e-88a4-b5e645856510 version:11 date:None author:Steven Dick, Github Community status:production type:TTP Description:The following analytic detects the use of NetExec (formally CrackmapExec) a toolset used for post-exploitation enumeration and attack within Active Directory environments through command line parameters. It leverages Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) data to identify specific command-line arguments associated with actions like ticket manipulation, kerberoasting, and password spraying. This activity is significant as NetExec is used by adversaries to exploit Kerberos for privilege escalation and lateral movement. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized access, persistence, and potential compromise of sensitive information within the network. Data_source:
-Windows Event Log Security 4688
-Sysmon EventID 1
-CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
search:| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) AS firstTime, max(_time) AS lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes WHERE NOT Processes.os="Linux" Processes.process_name IN ("nxc.exe") OR Processes.original_file_name IN ("nxc.exe") OR (Processes.process IN ("* smb *","* ssh *","* ldap *","* ftp *","* wmi *","* winrm *","* rdp *","* vnc *","* mssql *","* nfs *") AND ((Processes.process = "* -p *" AND Processes.process = "* -u *") OR Processes.process IN ("* -x *","* -M *","* --*"))) BY Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_process_with_netexec_command_line_parameters_filter`
how_to_implement:The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint` data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed up the data modeling process. known_false_positives:Although unlikely, legitimate applications may use the same command line parameters as NetExec. Filter as needed. References: -https://www.netexec.wiki/ -https://www.johnvictorwolfe.com/2024/07/21/the-successor-to-crackmapexec/ -https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0488/ drilldown_searches: name:'View the detection results for - "$dest$" and "$user$"' search:'%original_detection_search% | search dest = "$dest$" user = "$user$"' earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$' latest_offset:'$info_max_time$' name:'View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$" and "$user$"' search:'| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$","$user$") | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`' earliest_offset:'7d' latest_offset:'0' name:'Investigate processes on $dest$' search:'| from datamodel:Endpoint.Processes | search dest=$dest$ process_name = $process_name$' earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$' latest_offset:'$info_max_time$' analytic_story:['Active Directory Kerberos Attacks', 'Active Directory Privilege Escalation']
