Remote File Download via MpCmdRun

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Identifies the Windows Defender configuration utility (MpCmdRun.exe) being used to download a remote file.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

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

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5 minutes

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

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

Tags:

  • Elastic
  • Host
  • Windows
  • Threat Detection
  • Command and Control

Version: 5 (version history)

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.10.0

Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 7.13.0

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Investigation guide

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## Triage and analysis

### Investigating Remote File Download via MpCmdRun
Verify details such as the parent process, URL reputation, and downloaded file details. Additionally, `MpCmdRun` logs this information in the Appdata Temp folder in `MpCmdRun.log`.

Rule query

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process where event.type == "start" and (process.name :
"MpCmdRun.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "MpCmdRun.exe") and
process.args : "-DownloadFile" and process.args : "-url" and
process.args : "-path"

Threat mapping

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Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

Rule version history

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Version 5 (7.13.0 release)
  • Updated query, changed from:

    event.category:process and event.type:(start or process_started) and
    (process.name:MpCmdRun.exe or
    process.pe.original_file_name:MpCmdRun.exe) and
    process.args:(("-DownloadFile" or "-downloadfile") and "-url" and
    "-path")
Version 4 (7.12.0 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 3 (7.11.2 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 2 (7.11.0 release)
  • Updated query, changed from:

    event.category:process and event.type:(start or process_started) and
    (process.name:MpCmdRun.exe or
    process.pe.original_file_name:MpCmdRun.exe or
    winlog.event_data.OriginalFileName:MpCmdRun.exe) and
    process.args:(("-DownloadFile" or "-downloadfile") and "-url" and
    "-path")