Detections
Explore public detection logic contributed by the community across SIEM and rule languages.
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The following analytic detects the use of `esentutl.exe` to access credentials stored in the ntds.dit or SAM file. This detection leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process execution logs that include command-line details. This activity is significant because it may indicate an attempt to extract sensitive credential information, which is a common tactic in lateral movement and privilege escalation. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to user credentials, potentially compromising the entire network.
Detects instances where sensitive Active Directory database files (NTDS.DIT) are accessed, correlated with the execution of common system administration utilities (ntdsutil, vssadmin, diskshadow, esentutl) known to be leveraged by adversaries to create volume shadow copies or extract data for offline credential harvesting.
This rule detects various methods used to copy or access the Active Directory database (NTDS.dit), a common technique used by attackers to dump domain credentials. The rule monitors for the use of ntdsutil with 'ifm' (install from media) arguments, vssadmin to create volume shadow copies of the NTDS file, esentutl directly interacting with the NTDS database path, and common file copy utilities attempting to copy the NTDS.dit file.
This rule detects various methods used to copy or access the Active Directory database (NTDS.dit), a common technique used by attackers to dump domain credentials. The rule monitors for the use of ntdsutil with 'ifm' (install from media) arguments, vssadmin to create volume shadow copies of the NTDS file, esentutl directly interacting with the NTDS database path, and common file copy utilities attempting to copy the NTDS.dit file.
Conti recommendation to its affiliates to use esentutl to access NTDS dumped file. Trickbot also uses this utilities to get MSEdge info via its module pwgrab.
This rule detects the use of 'esentutl.exe' to copy sensitive files containing credential data, such as the Security Account Manager (SAM) database or the NTDS.dit file. It specifically looks for command-line arguments indicative of Volume Shadow Copy operations or direct paths to known sensitive files within the 'config', 'repair', or 'windows\ntds' directories.
This rule detects the use of 'esentutl.exe' with specific command-line arguments to extract browser data, particularly from the Windows WebCache. This activity is associated with malware like Qbot, which uses this technique to steal sensitive information from browsers such as Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.
Conti recommendation to its affiliates to use esentutl to access NTDS dumped file. Trickbot also uses this utilities to get MSEdge info via its module pwgrab.
Files with well-known filenames (sensitive files with credential data) copying
Detects flags often used with the LOLBAS Esentutl for malicious activity. It could be used in rare cases by administrators to access locked files or during maintenance.
Files with well-known filenames (sensitive files with credential data) copying
Detects flags often used with the LOLBAS Esentutl for malicious activity. It could be used in rare cases by administrators to access locked files or during maintenance.
Conti recommendation to its affiliates to use esentutl to access NTDS dumped file. Trickbot also uses this utilities to get MSEdge info via its module pwgrab.
This query was originally published in the threat analytics report, Qakbot blight lingers, seeds ransomware
Qakbot is malware that steals login credentials from banking and financial services. It has been deployed against small businesses as well as major corporations. Some outbreaks have involved targeted ransomware campaigns that use a similar set of techniques. Links to related queries are listed under See also.
The following query detects if Qakbot has injected code into the ping.exe process, to evade security and access credentials.
Reference - https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2017/11/06/mitigating-and-eliminating-info-stealing-qakbot-and-emotet-in-corporate-networks/
Qakbot is malware that steals login credentials from banking and financial services. It has been deployed against small businesses as well as major corporations. Some outbreaks have involved targeted ransomware campaigns that use a similar set of techniques. Links to related queries are listed under See also.
The following query detects if Qakbot has injected code into the ping.exe process, to evade security and access credentials.
Reference - https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2017/11/06/mitigating-and-eliminating-info-stealing-qakbot-and-emotet-in-corporate-networks/
This query was originally published in the threat analytics report, Qakbot blight lingers, seeds ransomware
Qakbot is malware that steals login credentials from banking and financial services. It has been deployed against small businesses as well as major corporations. Some outbreaks have involved targeted ransomware campaigns that use a similar set of techniques. Links to related queries are listed under See also.
The following query detects possible use of the system process, esentutl.exe, to look through a user's browser history and steal cookies.
Reference - https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2017/11/06/mitigating-and-eliminating-info-stealing-qakbot-and-emotet-in-corporate-networks/
Qakbot is malware that steals login credentials from banking and financial services. It has been deployed against small businesses as well as major corporations. Some outbreaks have involved targeted ransomware campaigns that use a similar set of techniques. Links to related queries are listed under See also.
The following query detects possible use of the system process, esentutl.exe, to look through a user's browser history and steal cookies.
Reference - https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2017/11/06/mitigating-and-eliminating-info-stealing-qakbot-and-emotet-in-corporate-networks/
Detects the launch of specific utilities (like ntdsutil, vssadmin, diskshadow, esentutl) on key servers. These utilities can be used by adversaries to access or copy the Active Directory domain database (NTDS.dit) or inhibit system recovery, which are common techniques for credential dumping and persistence.
This rule detects the execution of 'esentutl' with the '/p' parameter. This command-line utility is used for database utilities, and its use with '/p' (repair mode) can be leveraged by adversaries to access or repair Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) databases, including the NTDS.dit file which contains Active Directory credential information. This technique has been observed in use by threat actors like Conti ransomware and Trickbot to gather credentials or other sensitive information from compromised systems.
The analytic detects the use of `esentutl.exe` to access credentials stored in the ntds.dit or SAM file. This detection leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process execution logs that include command-line details. This activity is significant because it may indicate an attempt to extract sensitive credential information, which is a common tactic in lateral movement and privilege escalation. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to user credentials, potentially compromising the entire network.
This rule detects potential attempts to steal browser data by monitoring process creation events for specific command-line utilities (copy, move, xcopy, robocopy, esentutl) combined with paths commonly associated with web browser user data directories. Adversaries often acquire credentials from web browsers by copying or moving these files, which may contain saved usernames and passwords.
Detects when specific legitimate Windows applications or LOLBINs (Living Off the Land Binaries) create script files on disk. This behavior is often indicative of malicious activity where adversaries leverage trusted processes to drop and execute malicious scripts, bypassing security controls.
Detects the use of esentutl.exe to interact with Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) registry keys. This activity can be indicative of attempts to access or dump credentials, particularly from the Security Account Manager (SAM) database, which is often stored in the registry and can be targeted via VSS snapshots.
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