System Time Discovery

[metadata]
bypass_bbr_timing = true
creation_date = "2023/01/24"
integration = ["windows", "endpoint", "system"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2026/03/24"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
building_block_type = "default"
description = """
Detects the usage of commonly used system time discovery techniques, which attackers may use during the reconnaissance
phase after compromising a system.
"""
from = "now-9m"
index = [
    "endgame-*",
    "logs-endpoint.events.process-*",
    "logs-system.security*",
    "logs-windows.*",
    "winlogbeat-*",
]
language = "eql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "System Time Discovery"
risk_score = 21
rule_id = "06568a02-af29-4f20-929c-f3af281e41aa"
severity = "low"
tags = [
    "Domain: Endpoint",
    "OS: Windows",
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Discovery",
    "Data Source: Elastic Defend",
    "Data Source: Elastic Endgame",
    "Rule Type: BBR",
    "Data Source: Windows Security Event Logs",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "eql"

query = '''
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
(
 (
    (process.name: "net.exe" or (process.name : "net1.exe" and not process.parent.name : "net.exe")) and 
    process.args : "time" and not process.args : "/set"
 ) or 
 (process.name: "w32tm.exe" and process.args: "/tz") or 
 (process.name: "tzutil.exe" and process.args: "/g")
) and not user.id : ("S-1-5-18", "S-1-5-19", "S-1-5-20")
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1124"
name = "System Time Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1124/"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1614"
name = "System Location Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1614/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0007"
name = "Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0007/"