Microsoft Sentinel Analytic Rules
cloudbrothers.infoAzure Sentinel RepoToggle Dark/Light/Auto modeToggle Dark/Light/Auto modeToggle Dark/Light/Auto modeBack to homepage

Stopping multiple processes using taskkill

Back
Id4dd31bd5-11a3-4b9c-a7c5-4927ab4f2a77
RulenameStopping multiple processes using taskkill
DescriptionThis query checks for attempts to stop at least 10 separate processes using the taskkill.exe utility. This is a common technique used by ransomware to stop security products and other processes.
SeverityMedium
TacticsDefenseEvasion
TechniquesT1562
Required data connectorsMicrosoftThreatProtection
KindScheduled
Query frequency1h
Query period1h
Trigger threshold0
Trigger operatorgt
Source Urihttps://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Ransomware/MultiProcessKillWithTaskKill.yaml
Version1.0.0
Arm template4dd31bd5-11a3-4b9c-a7c5-4927ab4f2a77.json
Deploy To Azure
// Find attempts to stop processes using taskkill.exe
DeviceProcessEvents
| where FileName =~ "taskkill.exe" 
| summarize taskKillCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), TaskKillList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine, 10000) by DeviceId, DeviceName, bin(TimeGenerated, 2m)
| where taskKillCount > 10
| extend HostName = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, 0, indexof(DeviceName, '.')), DeviceName)
| extend DnsDomain = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, indexof(DeviceName, '.') + 1), "")
relevantTechniques:
- T1562
name: Stopping multiple processes using taskkill
requiredDataConnectors:
- dataTypes:
  - DeviceProcessEvents
  connectorId: MicrosoftThreatProtection
entityMappings:
- fieldMappings:
  - identifier: FullName
    columnName: DeviceName
  - identifier: HostName
    columnName: HostName
  - identifier: DnsDomain
    columnName: DnsDomain
  entityType: Host
triggerThreshold: 0
id: 4dd31bd5-11a3-4b9c-a7c5-4927ab4f2a77
tactics:
- DefenseEvasion
version: 1.0.0
OriginalUri: https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Ransomware/MultiProcessKillWithTaskKill.yaml
queryPeriod: 1h
kind: Scheduled
queryFrequency: 1h
severity: Medium
status: Available
description: |
    This query checks for attempts to stop at least 10 separate processes using the taskkill.exe utility. This is a common technique used by ransomware to stop security products and other processes.
query: |
  // Find attempts to stop processes using taskkill.exe
  DeviceProcessEvents
  | where FileName =~ "taskkill.exe" 
  | summarize taskKillCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), TaskKillList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine, 10000) by DeviceId, DeviceName, bin(TimeGenerated, 2m)
  | where taskKillCount > 10
  | extend HostName = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, 0, indexof(DeviceName, '.')), DeviceName)
  | extend DnsDomain = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, indexof(DeviceName, '.') + 1), "")  
triggerOperator: gt
{
  "$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/4dd31bd5-11a3-4b9c-a7c5-4927ab4f2a77')]",
      "kind": "Scheduled",
      "name": "[concat(parameters('workspace'),'/Microsoft.SecurityInsights/4dd31bd5-11a3-4b9c-a7c5-4927ab4f2a77')]",
      "properties": {
        "alertRuleTemplateName": "4dd31bd5-11a3-4b9c-a7c5-4927ab4f2a77",
        "customDetails": null,
        "description": "This query checks for attempts to stop at least 10 separate processes using the taskkill.exe utility. This is a common technique used by ransomware to stop security products and other processes.\n",
        "displayName": "Stopping multiple processes using taskkill",
        "enabled": true,
        "entityMappings": [
          {
            "entityType": "Host",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "DeviceName",
                "identifier": "FullName"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "HostName",
                "identifier": "HostName"
              },
              {
                "columnName": "DnsDomain",
                "identifier": "DnsDomain"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "OriginalUri": "https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Ransomware/MultiProcessKillWithTaskKill.yaml",
        "query": "// Find attempts to stop processes using taskkill.exe\nDeviceProcessEvents\n| where FileName =~ \"taskkill.exe\" \n| summarize taskKillCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), TaskKillList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine, 10000) by DeviceId, DeviceName, bin(TimeGenerated, 2m)\n| where taskKillCount > 10\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": "PT1H",
        "queryPeriod": "PT1H",
        "severity": "Medium",
        "status": "Available",
        "subTechniques": [],
        "suppressionDuration": "PT1H",
        "suppressionEnabled": false,
        "tactics": [
          "DefenseEvasion"
        ],
        "techniques": [
          "T1562"
        ],
        "templateVersion": "1.0.0",
        "triggerOperator": "GreaterThan",
        "triggerThreshold": 0
      },
      "type": "Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers/alertRules"
    }
  ]
}