Detection rules › Elastic

Suspicious Thread Context Manipulation

Source
github.com/elastic/protections-artifacts

Identifies local thread context manipulation using SetThreadContext API. This may indicate an attempt to hijack process thread execution.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

TacticTechniques
Stealth

Rule body

[rule]
description = """
Identifies local thread context manipulation using SetThreadContext API. This may indicate an attempt to hijack process
thread execution.
"""
id = "71f908de-8f53-4cb4-8f3a-6fa473fe9488"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Suspicious Thread Context Manipulation"
os_list = ["windows"]
reference = ["https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/doubling-down-etw-callstacks"]
version = "1.0.5"

query = '''
api where
  process.Ext.api.name == "SetThreadContext" and process.Ext.api.behaviors != "cross-process" and process.executable != null and
  (
   process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summary in ("ntdll.dll|kernelbase.dll|Unbacked", "ntdll.dll|Unbacked") or
   process.Ext.api.behaviors in ("proxy_call", "native_api")
   ) and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name in ("Kernel", "Unknown", "Undetermined") and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance in ("Kernel", "Unknown") and
 not _arraysearch(process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.code_signature, $entry, $entry.trusted == true) and
 not (process.Ext.api.behaviors == "native_api" and
      process.executable : ("C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC\\Reader\\acrocef_?\\RdrCEF.exe",
                            "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat *\\Acrobat\\AcroCEF\\AcroCEF.exe",
                            "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe",
                            "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat *\\Acrobat\\AcroRd32.exe",
                            "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC\\Reader\\AcroCEF\\RdrCEF.exe",
                            "C:\\Windows\\ADWS\\Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.WebServices.exe")) and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.hash.sha256 in
                                    ("732cce11d43ca62b49f816b8742ed2269e7b9817078fc35e1b275ee75ccc3ae0",
                                     "fc5f3e6ffbe1fad672368245b3e31c1cdd75fe069f560ad3252d5ae756d91860",
                                     "24781435da6510e1996ed7cd0d58b218a5b8dd65d2afe24ff9f570fe727540c9",
                                     "dc905c5802a2d5e0d307ac6fabe117184f1b05288641ee68f051c061a2a0bd90",
                                     "c7430d4f0f46d787d3c1f21375c69d7266e9c37b709b978f8e8e488c10dec49e",
                                     "ad374dd246c4ef3262e0cfb964acaea19f133c40d8e0b7057a20a06472a88026",
                                     "64e288dd3c1a21dca1c9e43a50fe9e9dc5023f6ce3e8b919cdca1fc9b1dd6b60",
                                     "18a5f38f87e38e906f9d5f6e965cb5d16cfa570cb52b977fc1cd50df48265abe",
                                     "0d02ae1920ed421b0b65a9267c1d42bfbd9e9bc83bc28715910b00b25fdf5f93",
                                     "a52418bbb36e76beb042b2ee1201057b4740232c619fa477bd6922f69677fc18") and
 not (process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name == "Unbacked" and process.Ext.api.behaviors == "native_api") and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.path like ("c:\\windows\\system32\\umppc*.dll",
                                                                "c:\\windows\\ccm\\ccmwmiproviderbase.dll",
                                                                "c:\\windows\\system32\\appxsip.dll",
                                                                "c:\\windows\\winsxs\\temp\\pendingdeletes\\$$deletemekernelbase.dll*",
                                                                "c:\\windows\\winsxs\\amd64_microsoft.*\\msvcp*.dll") and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_hook_module.path in ("c:\\program files\\cisco\\amp\\exprev\\protector64.dll", "c:\\windows\\system32\\microsoftaccounttokenprovider.dll", "c:\\windows\\system32\\webservices.dll") and
 not (process.Ext.api.behaviors in ("native_api", "image_indirect_call") and process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.path like ("c:\\program files (x86)\\*", "c:\\program files\\*")) and
 not (process.Ext.api.behaviors == "native_api" and process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance == "Undetermined") and
 not (process.Ext.api.behaviors == "proxy_call" and process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summary == "ntdll.dll|kernelbase.dll|dbgeng.dll|kernel32.dll|ntdll.dll" and
      process.executable : "C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\\DataCollection\\*\\OpenHandleCollector.exe") and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance_path like "c:\\windows\\system32\\csxumd64_*.dll"
'''

min_endpoint_version = "8.16.0"
optional_actions = []
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0
tree = true

[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1055"
name = "Process Injection"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/"


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

[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "8.16.0"

Stages and Predicates

Stage 1: api

api where
  process.Ext.api.name == "SetThreadContext" and process.Ext.api.behaviors != "cross-process" and process.executable != null and
  (
   process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summary in ("ntdll.dll|kernelbase.dll|Unbacked", "ntdll.dll|Unbacked") or
   process.Ext.api.behaviors in ("proxy_call", "native_api")
   ) and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name in ("Kernel", "Unknown", "Undetermined") and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance in ("Kernel", "Unknown") and
 not _arraysearch(process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.code_signature, $entry, $entry.trusted == true) and
 not (process.Ext.api.behaviors == "native_api" and
      process.executable : ("C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC\\Reader\\acrocef_?\\RdrCEF.exe",
                            "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat *\\Acrobat\\AcroCEF\\AcroCEF.exe",
                            "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe",
                            "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat *\\Acrobat\\AcroRd32.exe",
                            "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Adobe\\Acrobat Reader DC\\Reader\\AcroCEF\\RdrCEF.exe",
                            "C:\\Windows\\ADWS\\Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.WebServices.exe")) and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.hash.sha256 in
                                    ("732cce11d43ca62b49f816b8742ed2269e7b9817078fc35e1b275ee75ccc3ae0",
                                     "fc5f3e6ffbe1fad672368245b3e31c1cdd75fe069f560ad3252d5ae756d91860",
                                     "24781435da6510e1996ed7cd0d58b218a5b8dd65d2afe24ff9f570fe727540c9",
                                     "dc905c5802a2d5e0d307ac6fabe117184f1b05288641ee68f051c061a2a0bd90",
                                     "c7430d4f0f46d787d3c1f21375c69d7266e9c37b709b978f8e8e488c10dec49e",
                                     "ad374dd246c4ef3262e0cfb964acaea19f133c40d8e0b7057a20a06472a88026",
                                     "64e288dd3c1a21dca1c9e43a50fe9e9dc5023f6ce3e8b919cdca1fc9b1dd6b60",
                                     "18a5f38f87e38e906f9d5f6e965cb5d16cfa570cb52b977fc1cd50df48265abe",
                                     "0d02ae1920ed421b0b65a9267c1d42bfbd9e9bc83bc28715910b00b25fdf5f93",
                                     "a52418bbb36e76beb042b2ee1201057b4740232c619fa477bd6922f69677fc18") and
 not (process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name == "Unbacked" and process.Ext.api.behaviors == "native_api") and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.path like ("c:\\windows\\system32\\umppc*.dll",
                                                                "c:\\windows\\ccm\\ccmwmiproviderbase.dll",
                                                                "c:\\windows\\system32\\appxsip.dll",
                                                                "c:\\windows\\winsxs\\temp\\pendingdeletes\\$$deletemekernelbase.dll*",
                                                                "c:\\windows\\winsxs\\amd64_microsoft.*\\msvcp*.dll") and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_hook_module.path in ("c:\\program files\\cisco\\amp\\exprev\\protector64.dll", "c:\\windows\\system32\\microsoftaccounttokenprovider.dll", "c:\\windows\\system32\\webservices.dll") and
 not (process.Ext.api.behaviors in ("native_api", "image_indirect_call") and process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.path like ("c:\\program files (x86)\\*", "c:\\program files\\*")) and
 not (process.Ext.api.behaviors == "native_api" and process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance == "Undetermined") and
 not (process.Ext.api.behaviors == "proxy_call" and process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summary == "ntdll.dll|kernelbase.dll|dbgeng.dll|kernel32.dll|ntdll.dll" and
      process.executable : "C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\\DataCollection\\*\\OpenHandleCollector.exe") and
 not process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance_path like "c:\\windows\\system32\\csxumd64_*.dll"

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

FieldKindExcluded valuesSearch
process.Ext.api.behaviorseqnative_apiexcludes:process.Ext.api.behaviors field:"process.Ext.api.behaviors" value:"native_api"
process.executablewildcardC:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\acrocef_?\RdrCEF.exe, C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat *\Acrobat\AcroCEF\AcroCEF.exe, C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroRd32.exe, C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat *\Acrobat\AcroRd32.exe, C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroCEF\RdrCEF.exe, C:\Windows\ADWS\Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.WebServices.exeexcludes:process.executable
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.nameeqUnbackedexcludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name" value:"Unbacked"
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenanceeqUndeterminedexcludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance" value:"Undetermined"
process.Ext.api.behaviorseqproxy_callexcludes:process.Ext.api.behaviors field:"process.Ext.api.behaviors" value:"proxy_call"
process.executablewildcardC:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\DataCollection\*\OpenHandleCollector.exeexcludes:process.executable field:"process.executable" value:"C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\DataCollection\*\OpenHandleCollector.exe"
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summaryeqntdll.dll|kernelbase.dll|dbgeng.dll|kernel32.dll|ntdll.dllexcludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summary field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summary" value:"ntdll.dll|kernelbase.dll|dbgeng.dll|kernel32.dll|ntdll.dll"
process.Ext.api.behaviorsinimage_indirect_call, native_apiexcludes:process.Ext.api.behaviors field:"process.Ext.api.behaviors" value:"image_indirect_call" field:"process.Ext.api.behaviors" value:"native_api"
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.pathstarts_withc:\program files (x86)\, c:\program files\excludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.path field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.path" value:"c:\program files (x86)\" field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.path" value:"c:\program files\"
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.code_signaturearray_any(no value, null check)excludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.code_signature
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_hook_module.pathinc:\program files\cisco\amp\exprev\protector64.dll, c:\windows\system32\microsoftaccounttokenprovider.dll, c:\windows\system32\webservices.dllexcludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_hook_module.path field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_hook_module.path" value:"c:\program files\cisco\amp\exprev\protector64.dll" field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_hook_module.path" value:"c:\windows\system32\microsoftaccounttokenprovider.dll" field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_hook_module.path" value:"c:\windows\system32\webservices.dll"
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.hash.sha256in0d02ae1920ed421b0b65a9267c1d42bfbd9e9bc83bc28715910b00b25fdf5f93, 18a5f38f87e38e906f9d5f6e965cb5d16cfa570cb52b977fc1cd50df48265abe, 24781435da6510e1996ed7cd0d58b218a5b8dd65d2afe24ff9f570fe727540c9, 64e288dd3c1a21dca1c9e43a50fe9e9dc5023f6ce3e8b919cdca1fc9b1dd6b60, 732cce11d43ca62b49f816b8742ed2269e7b9817078fc35e1b275ee75ccc3ae0, a52418bbb36e76beb042b2ee1201057b4740232c619fa477bd6922f69677fc18, ad374dd246c4ef3262e0cfb964acaea19f133c40d8e0b7057a20a06472a88026, c7430d4f0f46d787d3c1f21375c69d7266e9c37b709b978f8e8e488c10dec49e, dc905c5802a2d5e0d307ac6fabe117184f1b05288641ee68f051c061a2a0bd90, fc5f3e6ffbe1fad672368245b3e31c1cdd75fe069f560ad3252d5ae756d91860excludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.hash.sha256
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.nameinKernel, Undetermined, Unknownexcludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name" value:"Kernel" field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name" value:"Undetermined" field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.name" value:"Unknown"
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.pathwildcardc:\windows\system32\umppc*.dll, c:\windows\ccm\ccmwmiproviderbase.dll, c:\windows\system32\appxsip.dll, c:\windows\winsxs\temp\pendingdeletes\$$deletemekernelbase.dll*, c:\windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft.*\msvcp*.dllexcludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.path
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenanceinKernel, Unknownexcludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance" value:"Kernel" field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance" value:"Unknown"
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance_pathwildcardc:\windows\system32\csxumd64_*.dllexcludes:process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance_path field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_final_user_module.protection_provenance_path" value:"c:\windows\system32\csxumd64_*.dll"

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
process.Ext.api.behaviorsin
  • native_api corpus 4 (elastic 4)
  • proxy_call corpus 4 (elastic 4)
field:"process.Ext.api.behaviors" kind:in
process.Ext.api.behaviorsne
  • cross-process corpus 3 (elastic 3)
field:"process.Ext.api.behaviors" kind:ne value:"cross-process"
process.Ext.api.nameeq
  • SetThreadContext corpus 4 (elastic 4)
field:"process.Ext.api.name" kind:eq value:"SetThreadContext"
process.executableis_not_null
  • (no value, null check)
field:"Image" kind:is_not_null
process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summaryin
  • ntdll.dll|Unbacked
  • ntdll.dll|kernelbase.dll|Unbacked corpus 3 (elastic 3)
field:"process.thread.Ext.call_stack_summary" kind:in