PowerShell Script with Password Policy Discovery Capabilities

Identifies the use of Cmdlets and methods related to remote execution activities using WinRM. Attackers can abuse WinRM to perform lateral movement using built-in tools.

Rule type: query
Rule indices:

• winlogbeat-*
• logs-windows.powershell*

Rule Severity: low
Risk Score: 21
Runs every: 60m
Searches indices from: now-119m
Maximum alerts per execution: ?
References:

Tags:

• Domain: Endpoint
• OS: Windows
• Use Case: Threat Detection
• Tactic: Discovery
• Tactic: Execution
• Data Source: PowerShell Logs
• Rule Type: BBR

Version: ?
Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

The 'PowerShell Script Block Logging' logging policy must be enabled. Steps to implement the logging policy with Advanced Audit Configuration:

Computer Configuration >
Administrative Templates >
Windows PowerShell >
Turn on PowerShell Script Block Logging (Enable)

Steps to implement the logging policy via registry:

reg add "hklm\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\ScriptBlockLogging" /v EnableScriptBlockLogging /t REG_DWORD /d 1

event.category: "process" and host.os.type:windows and
(
  powershell.file.script_block_text: (
    "Get-ADDefaultDomainPasswordPolicy" or
    "Get-ADFineGrainedPasswordPolicy" or
    "Get-ADUserResultantPasswordPolicy" or
    "Get-DomainPolicy" or
    "Get-GPPPassword" or
    "Get-PassPol"
  )
  or
  powershell.file.script_block_text: (
    ("defaultNamingContext" or "ActiveDirectory.DirectoryContext" or "ActiveDirectory.DirectorySearcher") and
    (
      (
        ".MinLengthPassword" or
        ".MinPasswordAge" or
        ".MaxPasswordAge"
      ) or
      (
        "minPwdAge" or
        "maxPwdAge" or
        "minPwdLength"
      ) or
      (
        "msDS-PasswordSettings"
      )
    )
  )
) and not powershell.file.script_block_text : (
    "sentinelbreakpoints" and "Set-PSBreakpoint" and "PowerSploitIndicators"
  )
  and not
  (
    powershell.file.script_block_text : ("43c15630-959c-49e4-a977-758c5cc93408" and "CmdletsToExport" and "ActiveDirectory.Types.ps1xml")
  )
  and not user.id : "S-1-5-18"

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK

• Tactic:

  • Name: Discovery
  • Id: TA0007
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0007/

• Technique:

  • Name: Password Policy Discovery
  • Id: T1201
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1201/

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK

• Tactic:

  • Name: Execution
  • Id: TA0002
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/

• Technique:

  • Name: Command and Scripting Interpreter
  • Id: T1059
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/

• Sub Technique:

  • Name: PowerShell
  • Id: T1059.001
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/