HAFNIUM Exchange Exploitation Activity
Detects activity observed by different researchers to be HAFNIUM group activity (or related) on Exchange servers
Detection logic
selection_attrib
CommandLine|contains|all:
- attrib
- " +h "
- " +s "
- " +r "
- .aspxselection_vsperfmon
- Image|contains: \ProgramData\VSPerfMon\
- CommandLine|contains|all:
- schtasks
- VSPerfMonselection_opera_1
Image|endswith: Opera_browser.exe
ParentImage|endswith:
- \services.exe
- \svchost.exeselection_opera_2
Image|endswith: Users\Public\opera\Opera_browser.exeselection_vssadmin
CommandLine|contains|all:
- vssadmin list shadows
- Temp\__outputselection_makecab_1
Image|endswith: \makecab.exe
CommandLine|contains|all:
- inetpub\wwwroot\
- .dmp.zipselection_makecab_2
Image|endswith: \makecab.exe
CommandLine|contains:
- Microsoft\Exchange Server\
- compressionmemory
- .gifselection_7zip
CommandLine|contains|all:
- " -t7z "
- C:\Programdata\pst
- \it.zipselection_rundll32
CommandLine|contains|all:
- \comsvcs.dll
- Minidump
- "full "
- \inetpub\wwwrootselection_other
CommandLine|contains:
- Windows\Temp\xx.bat
- Windows\WwanSvcdcs
- Windows\Temp\cw.exeCondition
1 of selection*Raw YAML
title: HAFNIUM Exchange Exploitation Activity
id: bbb2dedd-a0e3-46ab-ba6c-6c82ae7a9aa7
status: test
description: Detects activity observed by different researchers to be HAFNIUM group activity (or related) on Exchange servers
references:
- https://blog.truesec.com/2021/03/07/exchange-zero-day-proxylogon-and-hafnium/
- https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/03/02/hafnium-targeting-exchange-servers/
- https://discuss.elastic.co/t/detection-and-response-for-hafnium-activity/266289/3
- https://twitter.com/GadixCRK/status/1369313704869834753?s=20
- https://twitter.com/BleepinComputer/status/1372218235949617161
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-03-09
modified: 2023-03-09
tags:
- attack.privilege-escalation
- attack.execution
- attack.persistence
- attack.t1546
- attack.t1053
- attack.g0125
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_attrib:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- 'attrib'
- ' +h '
- ' +s '
- ' +r '
- '.aspx'
selection_vsperfmon:
- Image|contains: '\ProgramData\VSPerfMon\'
- CommandLine|contains|all:
- 'schtasks'
- 'VSPerfMon'
selection_opera_1:
Image|endswith: 'Opera_browser.exe'
ParentImage|endswith:
- '\services.exe'
- '\svchost.exe'
selection_opera_2:
Image|endswith: 'Users\Public\opera\Opera_browser.exe'
selection_vssadmin:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- 'vssadmin list shadows'
- 'Temp\__output'
selection_makecab_1:
Image|endswith: '\makecab.exe'
CommandLine|contains|all:
- 'inetpub\wwwroot\'
- '.dmp.zip'
selection_makecab_2:
Image|endswith: '\makecab.exe'
CommandLine|contains:
- 'Microsoft\Exchange Server\'
- 'compressionmemory'
- '.gif'
selection_7zip:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- ' -t7z '
- 'C:\Programdata\pst'
- '\it.zip'
selection_rundll32:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- '\comsvcs.dll'
- 'Minidump'
- 'full '
- '\inetpub\wwwroot'
selection_other:
CommandLine|contains:
- 'Windows\Temp\xx.bat'
- 'Windows\WwanSvcdcs'
- 'Windows\Temp\cw.exe'
condition: 1 of selection*
falsepositives:
- Unlikely
level: criticalFalse positives
- Unlikely
References
- https://blog.truesec.com/2021/03/07/exchange-zero-day-proxylogon-and-hafnium/
- https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/03/02/hafnium-targeting-exchange-servers/
- https://discuss.elastic.co/t/detection-and-response-for-hafnium-activity/266289/3
- https://twitter.com/GadixCRK/status/1369313704869834753?s=20
- https://twitter.com/BleepinComputer/status/1372218235949617161