Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32

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Identifies command shell activity started via RunDLL32, which is commonly abused by attackers to host malicious code.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

  • winlogbeat-*
  • logs-endpoint.events.*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 5 minutes

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

Tags:

  • Elastic
  • Host
  • Windows
  • Threat Detection
  • Execution

Version: 2 (version history)

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.11.0

Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 7.11.2

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License

Rule query

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process where event.type in ("start", "process_started") and
process.name : ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe") and process.parent.name
: "rundll32.exe" and /* common FPs can be added here */ not
process.parent.args :
"C:\\Windows\\System32\\SHELL32.dll,RunAsNewUser_RunDLL"

Threat mapping

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Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

Rule version history

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Version 2 (7.11.2 release)
  • Formatting only