Windows Disable or Stop Browser Process

name: Windows Disable or Stop Browser Process
id: 220d34b7-b6c7-45fe-8dbb-c35cdd9fe6d5
version: 14
creation_date: '2024-10-18'
modification_date: '2026-06-25'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects the use of the taskkill command in a process command line to terminate several known browser processes, a technique commonly employed by the Braodo stealer malware to steal credentials. By forcefully closing browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, the malware can unlock files that store sensitive information, such as passwords and login data. This detection focuses on identifying taskkill commands targeting these browsers, signaling malicious intent. Early detection allows security teams to investigate and prevent further credential theft and system compromise.
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 1
search: |-
    | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes
      WHERE Processes.process = "*taskkill*" Processes.process IN("*chrome.exe","*firefox.exe","*brave.exe","*opera.exe","*msedge.exe","*chromium.exe")
      BY Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name
         Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid
         Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path
         Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid
         Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level
         Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user
         Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product
    | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `windows_disable_or_stop_browser_process_filter`
how_to_implement: The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint` data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed up the data modeling process.
known_false_positives: Admin or user may choose to terminate browser via taskkill.exe. Filter as needed.
references:
    - https://x.com/suyog41/status/1825869470323056748
    - https://g0njxa.medium.com/from-vietnam-to-united-states-malware-fraud-and-dropshipping-98b7a7b2c36d
finding:
    title: A process commandline- [$process$] that tries to kill browser on [$dest$].
    entity:
        field: user
        type: user
        score: 50
intermediate_findings:
    entities:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
          message: A process commandline- [$process$] that tries to kill browser on [$dest$].
analytic_story:
    - Braodo Stealer
    - Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters
    - Hellcat Ransomware
    - Castle RAT
    - BlankGrabber Stealer
    - Salat Stealer
    - Phantom Stealer
asset_type: Endpoint
mitre_attack_id:
    - T1685
product:
    - Splunk Enterprise
    - Splunk Enterprise Security
    - Splunk Cloud
category: endpoint
security_domain: endpoint