[metadata] creation_date = "2020/10/19" maturity = "production" updated_date = "2021/03/08" [rule] author = ["Elastic"] description = "Identifies command shell activity started via RunDLL32, which is commonly abused by attackers to host malicious code." false_positives = ["Microsoft Windows installers leveraging RunDLL32 for installation."] from = "now-9m" index = ["winlogbeat-*", "logs-endpoint.events.*", "logs-windows.*"] language = "eql" license = "Elastic License v2" name = "Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32" risk_score = 21 rule_id = "9ccf3ce0-0057-440a-91f5-870c6ad39093" severity = "low" tags = ["Elastic", "Host", "Windows", "Threat Detection", "Execution"] timestamp_override = "event.ingested" type = "eql" query = ''' process where event.type == "start" and process.name : ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe") and process.parent.name : "rundll32.exe" and process.parent.command_line != null and /* common FPs can be added here */ not process.parent.args : ("C:\\Windows\\System32\\SHELL32.dll,RunAsNewUser_RunDLL", "C:\\WINDOWS\\*.tmp,zzzzInvokeManagedCustomActionOutOfProc") ''' [[rule.threat]] framework = "MITRE ATT&CK" [[rule.threat.technique]] id = "T1059" name = "Command and Scripting Interpreter" reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/" [[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]] id = "T1059.001" name = "PowerShell" reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/" [rule.threat.tactic] id = "TA0002" name = "Execution" reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/"