Operating System Security Updates Disabled

Source: github.com/elastic/protections-artifacts

Identifies changes to the SoftwareUpdate preferences using the built-in defaults command. Adversaries may abuse this in an attempt to disable security updates.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Tactic	Techniques
Defense Impairment	`T1685` Disable or Modify Tools

Rule body

[rule]
description = """
Identifies changes to the SoftwareUpdate preferences using the built-in defaults command. Adversaries may abuse this in
an attempt to disable security updates.
"""
id = "741ad90d-e8d0-4d29-b91b-3d68108cb789"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Operating System Security Updates Disabled"
os_list = ["macos"]
reference = ["https://blog.checkpoint.com/2017/07/13/osxdok-refuses-go-away-money/"]
version = "1.0.28"

query = '''
process where event.type == "start" and
 process.name == "defaults" and
 process.args like~ "write" and process.args like~ "-bool" and
 process.command_line like~ "*com.apple.SoftwareUpdate*" and process.args like~ "CriticalUpdateInstall" and process.args like~ "NO"
'''

min_endpoint_version = "8.10.2"
optional_actions = []
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0

[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1562"
name = "Impair Defenses"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1562.001"
name = "Disable or Modify Tools"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/001/"



[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"

[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "8.10.2"

Stages and Predicates

Stage 1: `process`

process where event.type == "start" and
 process.name == "defaults" and
 process.args like~ "write" and process.args like~ "-bool" and
 process.command_line like~ "*com.apple.SoftwareUpdate*" and process.args like~ "CriticalUpdateInstall" and process.args like~ "NO"

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.