Potential Ransomware activity related to Cobalt Strike

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Id	4bd9ce9d-8586-4beb-8fdb-bd018cacbe7d
Rulename	Potential Ransomware activity related to Cobalt Strike
Description	This query searches for alerts related to suspected ransomware and Cobalt Strike activity, a tool used in numerous ransomware campaigns. It looks for alerts that indicate potential ransomware activity, such as attempts to clear security event logs, delete backup files, and execute Cobalt Strike malware.
Severity	High
Tactics	Execution Persistence DefenseEvasion Impact
Techniques	T1059 T1078 T1070 T1490
Required data connectors	MicrosoftThreatProtection
Kind	Scheduled
Query frequency	1d
Query period	1d
Trigger threshold	0
Trigger operator	gt
Source Uri	https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Ransomware/PotentialCobaltStrikeRansomwareActivity.yaml
Version	1.0.1
Arm template	4bd9ce9d-8586-4beb-8fdb-bd018cacbe7d.json

KQL

// Look for sc.exe disabling services
AlertInfo 
// Attempts to clear security event logs. 
| where Title in("Event log was cleared", 
// List alerts flagging attempts to delete backup files. 
"File backups were deleted", 
// Potential Cobalt Strike activity - Note that other threat activity can also 
// trigger alerts for suspicious decoded content 
"Suspicious decoded content", 
// Cobalt Strike activity 
"\'Atosev\' malware was detected", 
"\'Ploty\' malware was detected", 
"\'Bynoco\' malware was detected",
"\'Cobaltstrike\' malware was detected",
"Echo command over pipe on localhost",
"Known attack framework activity was observed",
"An active \'Cobaltstrike\' malware was detected",
"Suspicious \'CobaltStrike\' behavior was prevented",
"Suspicious process launch by Rundll32.exe") 
| extend AlertTime = TimeGenerated | distinct AlertTime, AlertId, Title 
| join AlertEvidence on $left.AlertId == $right.AlertId
| summarize by DeviceId, AlertTime, Title, AlertId
// Get device IDs
| join DeviceLogonEvents on $left.DeviceId == $right.DeviceId 
// Creating 10 day Window surrounding alert activity 
| where TimeGenerated < AlertTime + 12h and TimeGenerated > AlertTime - 12h // Projecting specific columns 
| project Title, DeviceName, DeviceId, TimeGenerated, LogonType, AccountDomain, AccountName, AccountSid, AlertTime, AlertId, RemoteIP, RemoteDeviceName
| extend AccountFullName = tostring(strcat(AccountDomain, "\\", AccountName))
| extend HostName = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, 0, indexof(DeviceName, '.')), DeviceName)
| extend DnsDomain = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, indexof(DeviceName, '.') + 1), "")

YAML

id: 4bd9ce9d-8586-4beb-8fdb-bd018cacbe7d
tactics:
- Execution
- Persistence
- DefenseEvasion
- Impact
queryPeriod: 1d
triggerThreshold: 0
name: Potential Ransomware activity related to Cobalt Strike
query: |
  // Look for sc.exe disabling services
  AlertInfo 
  // Attempts to clear security event logs. 
  | where Title in("Event log was cleared", 
  // List alerts flagging attempts to delete backup files. 
  "File backups were deleted", 
  // Potential Cobalt Strike activity - Note that other threat activity can also 
  // trigger alerts for suspicious decoded content 
  "Suspicious decoded content", 
  // Cobalt Strike activity 
  "\'Atosev\' malware was detected", 
  "\'Ploty\' malware was detected", 
  "\'Bynoco\' malware was detected",
  "\'Cobaltstrike\' malware was detected",
  "Echo command over pipe on localhost",
  "Known attack framework activity was observed",
  "An active \'Cobaltstrike\' malware was detected",
  "Suspicious \'CobaltStrike\' behavior was prevented",
  "Suspicious process launch by Rundll32.exe") 
  | extend AlertTime = TimeGenerated | distinct AlertTime, AlertId, Title 
  | join AlertEvidence on $left.AlertId == $right.AlertId
  | summarize by DeviceId, AlertTime, Title, AlertId
  // Get device IDs
  | join DeviceLogonEvents on $left.DeviceId == $right.DeviceId 
  // Creating 10 day Window surrounding alert activity 
  | where TimeGenerated < AlertTime + 12h and TimeGenerated > AlertTime - 12h // Projecting specific columns 
  | project Title, DeviceName, DeviceId, TimeGenerated, LogonType, AccountDomain, AccountName, AccountSid, AlertTime, AlertId, RemoteIP, RemoteDeviceName
  | extend AccountFullName = tostring(strcat(AccountDomain, "\\", AccountName))
  | extend HostName = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, 0, indexof(DeviceName, '.')), DeviceName)
  | extend DnsDomain = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, indexof(DeviceName, '.') + 1), "")  
severity: High
triggerOperator: gt
kind: Scheduled
relevantTechniques:
- T1059
- T1078
- T1070
- T1490
OriginalUri: https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Ransomware/PotentialCobaltStrikeRansomwareActivity.yaml
queryFrequency: 1d
requiredDataConnectors:
- connectorId: MicrosoftThreatProtection
  dataTypes:
  - AlertInfo
  - AlertEvidence
  - DeviceLogonEvents
description: |
    This query searches for alerts related to suspected ransomware and Cobalt Strike activity, a tool used in numerous ransomware campaigns. It looks for alerts that indicate potential ransomware activity, such as attempts to clear security event logs, delete backup files, and execute Cobalt Strike malware.
status: Available
version: 1.0.1
entityMappings:
- fieldMappings:
  - columnName: DeviceName
    identifier: FullName
  - columnName: HostName
    identifier: HostName
  - columnName: DnsDomain
    identifier: DnsDomain
  entityType: Host
- fieldMappings:
  - columnName: AccountFullName
    identifier: FullName
  - columnName: AccountName
    identifier: Name
  - columnName: AccountDomain
    identifier: DnsDomain
  entityType: Account
- fieldMappings:
  - columnName: RemoteIP
    identifier: Address
  entityType: IP

ARM

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "parameters": {
    "workspace": {
      "type": "String"
    }
  },
  "resources": [
    {
      "apiVersion": "2024-01-01-preview",
      "id": "[concat(resourceId('Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers', parameters('workspace'), 'Microsoft.SecurityInsights'),'/alertRules/4bd9ce9d-8586-4beb-8fdb-bd018cacbe7d')]",
      "kind": "Scheduled",
      "name": "[concat(parameters('workspace'),'/Microsoft.SecurityInsights/4bd9ce9d-8586-4beb-8fdb-bd018cacbe7d')]",
      "properties": {
        "alertRuleTemplateName": "4bd9ce9d-8586-4beb-8fdb-bd018cacbe7d",
        "customDetails": null,
        "description": "This query searches for alerts related to suspected ransomware and Cobalt Strike activity, a tool used in numerous ransomware campaigns. It looks for alerts that indicate potential ransomware activity, such as attempts to clear security event logs, delete backup files, and execute Cobalt Strike malware.\n",
        "displayName": "Potential Ransomware activity related to Cobalt Strike",
        "enabled": true,
        "entityMappings": [
          {
            "entityType": "Host",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "DeviceName",
                "identifier": "FullName"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "HostName",
                "identifier": "HostName"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "DnsDomain",
                "identifier": "DnsDomain"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "entityType": "Account",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "AccountFullName",
                "identifier": "FullName"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "AccountName",
                "identifier": "Name"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "AccountDomain",
                "identifier": "DnsDomain"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "entityType": "IP",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "RemoteIP",
                "identifier": "Address"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "OriginalUri": "https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Ransomware/PotentialCobaltStrikeRansomwareActivity.yaml",
        "query": "// Look for sc.exe disabling services\nAlertInfo \n// Attempts to clear security event logs. \n| where Title in(\"Event log was cleared\", \n// List alerts flagging attempts to delete backup files. \n\"File backups were deleted\", \n// Potential Cobalt Strike activity - Note that other threat activity can also \n// trigger alerts for suspicious decoded content \n\"Suspicious decoded content\", \n// Cobalt Strike activity \n\"\\'Atosev\\' malware was detected\", \n\"\\'Ploty\\' malware was detected\", \n\"\\'Bynoco\\' malware was detected\",\n\"\\'Cobaltstrike\\' malware was detected\",\n\"Echo command over pipe on localhost\",\n\"Known attack framework activity was observed\",\n\"An active \\'Cobaltstrike\\' malware was detected\",\n\"Suspicious \\'CobaltStrike\\' behavior was prevented\",\n\"Suspicious process launch by Rundll32.exe\") \n| extend AlertTime = TimeGenerated | distinct AlertTime, AlertId, Title \n| join AlertEvidence on $left.AlertId == $right.AlertId\n| summarize by DeviceId, AlertTime, Title, AlertId\n// Get device IDs\n| join DeviceLogonEvents on $left.DeviceId == $right.DeviceId \n// Creating 10 day Window surrounding alert activity \n| where TimeGenerated < AlertTime + 12h and TimeGenerated > AlertTime - 12h // Projecting specific columns \n| project Title, DeviceName, DeviceId, TimeGenerated, LogonType, AccountDomain, AccountName, AccountSid, AlertTime, AlertId, RemoteIP, RemoteDeviceName\n| extend AccountFullName = tostring(strcat(AccountDomain, \"\\\\\", AccountName))\n| extend HostName = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, 0, indexof(DeviceName, '.')), DeviceName)\n| extend DnsDomain = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, indexof(DeviceName, '.') + 1), \"\")\n",
        "queryFrequency": "P1D",
        "queryPeriod": "P1D",
        "severity": "High",
        "status": "Available",
        "subTechniques": [],
        "suppressionDuration": "PT1H",
        "suppressionEnabled": false,
        "tactics": [
          "DefenseEvasion",
          "Execution",
          "Impact",
          "Persistence"
        ],
        "techniques": [
          "T1059",
          "T1070",
          "T1078",
          "T1490"
        ],
        "templateVersion": "1.0.1",
        "triggerOperator": "GreaterThan",
        "triggerThreshold": 0
      },
      "type": "Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers/alertRules"
    }
  ]
}