AWS Execution via System Manager

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Identifies the execution of commands and scripts via System Manager. Execution methods such as RunShellScript, RunPowerShellScript, and alike can be abused by an authenticated attacker to install a backdoor or to interact with a compromised instance via reverse-shell using system only commands.

Rule type: query

Rule indices:

  • filebeat-*
  • logs-aws*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 10 minutes

Searches indices from: now-60m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

Tags:

  • Elastic
  • Cloud
  • AWS
  • Continuous Monitoring
  • SecOps
  • Log Auditing

Version: 2 (version history)

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.9.0

Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 7.10.0

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License

Potential false positives

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Verify whether the user identity, user agent, and/or hostname should be making changes in your environment. Suspicious commands from unfamiliar users or hosts should be investigated. If a known behavior is causing false positives, it can be excluded from the rule.

Investigation guide

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The AWS Filebeat module must be enabled to use this rule.

Rule query

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event.dataset:aws.cloudtrail and event.provider:ssm.amazonaws.com and
event.action:SendCommand and event.outcome:success

Threat mapping

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Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

Rule version history

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Version 2 (7.10.0 release)
  • Updated query, changed from:

    event.module:aws and event.dataset:aws.cloudtrail and
    event.provider:ssm.amazonaws.com and event.action:SendCommand and
    event.outcome:success