title: Executable Used by PlugX in Uncommon Location
id: aeab5ec5-be14-471a-80e8-e344418305c2
status: experimental
description: Detects the execution of an executable that is typically used by PlugX for DLL side loading started from an uncommon location
references:
    - http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2016/03/10/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-36/
    - https://countuponsecurity.com/2017/06/07/threat-hunting-in-the-enterprise-with-appcompatprocessor/
author: Florian Roth
date: 2017/06/12
tags:
    - attack.s0013
    - attack.defense_evasion
    - attack.t1073          # an old one
    - attack.t1574.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_cammute:
        Image: '*\CamMute.exe'
    filter_cammute:
        Image: '*\Lenovo\Communication Utility\\*'
    selection_chrome_frame:
        Image: '*\chrome_frame_helper.exe'
    filter_chrome_frame:
        Image: '*\Google\Chrome\application\\*'
    selection_devemu:
        Image: '*\dvcemumanager.exe'
    filter_devemu:
        Image: '*\Microsoft Device Emulator\\*'
    selection_gadget:
        Image: '*\Gadget.exe'
    filter_gadget:
        Image: '*\Windows Media Player\\*'
    selection_hcc:
        Image: '*\hcc.exe'
    filter_hcc:
        Image: '*\HTML Help Workshop\\*'
    selection_hkcmd:
        Image: '*\hkcmd.exe'
    filter_hkcmd:
        Image:
            - '*\System32\\*'
            - '*\SysNative\\*'
            - '*\SysWowo64\\*'
    selection_mc:
        Image: '*\Mc.exe'
    filter_mc:
        Image:
            - '*\Microsoft Visual Studio*'
            - '*\Microsoft SDK*'
            - '*\Windows Kit*'
    selection_msmpeng:
        Image: '*\MsMpEng.exe'
    filter_msmpeng:
        Image:
            - '*\Microsoft Security Client\\*'
            - '*\Windows Defender\\*'
            - '*\AntiMalware\\*'
    selection_msseces:
        Image: '*\msseces.exe'
    filter_msseces:
        Image:
            - '*\Microsoft Security Center\\*'
            - '*\Microsoft Security Client\\*'
            - '*\Microsoft Security Essentials\\*'
    selection_oinfo:
        Image: '*\OInfoP11.exe'
    filter_oinfo:
        Image: '*\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\\*'
    selection_oleview:
        Image: '*\OleView.exe'
    filter_oleview:
        Image:
            - '*\Microsoft Visual Studio*'
            - '*\Microsoft SDK*'
            - '*\Windows Kit*'
            - '*\Windows Resource Kit\\*'
    selection_rc:
        Image: '*\rc.exe'
    filter_rc:
        Image:
            - '*\Microsoft Visual Studio*'
            - '*\Microsoft SDK*'
            - '*\Windows Kit*'
            - '*\Windows Resource Kit\\*'
            - '*\Microsoft.NET\\*'
    condition: ( selection_cammute and not filter_cammute ) or ( selection_chrome_frame and not filter_chrome_frame ) or ( selection_devemu and not filter_devemu ) or ( selection_gadget and not filter_gadget ) or ( selection_hcc and not filter_hcc ) or ( selection_hkcmd and not filter_hkcmd ) or ( selection_mc and not filter_mc ) or ( selection_msmpeng and not filter_msmpeng ) or ( selection_msseces and not filter_msseces ) or ( selection_oinfo and not filter_oinfo ) or ( selection_oleview and not filter_oleview ) or ( selection_rc and not filter_rc )
fields:
    - CommandLine
    - ParentCommandLine
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
