splApache-2.0from splunk/security_content

SearchProtocolHost with no Command Line with Network

The following analytic detects instances of searchprotocolhost.exe running without command line arguments but with an active network connection. This behavior is identified using Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) telemetry, focusing on process execution and network traffic data. It is significant because searchprotocolhost.exe typically runs with specific command line arguments, and deviations from this norm can indicate malicious activity, such as Cobalt Strike usage. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to establish network connections for command and control, potentially leading to data exfiltration or further system compromise.

Quality

FP risk

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Rule sourcedetections/endpoint/searchprotocolhost_with_no_command_line_with_network.yml

| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where
(
  Processes.process_name=searchprotocolhost.exe
  OR
  Processes.original_file_name=searchprotocolhost.exe
)
Processes.process IN (
  "*searchprotocolhost",
  "*searchprotocolhost.exe",
  "*searchprotocolhost.exe\""
)
by _time span=1h 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)`
| join process_id dest
[
  | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count
    FROM datamodel=Network_Traffic.All_Traffic where
    All_Traffic.dest_port != 0
    by All_Traffic.action All_Traffic.app All_Traffic.bytes All_Traffic.bytes_in All_Traffic.bytes_out
       All_Traffic.dest  All_Traffic.dest_ip All_Traffic.dest_port All_Traffic.dvc All_Traffic.protocol
       All_Traffic.protocol_version All_Traffic.src All_Traffic.src_ip All_Traffic.src_port
       All_Traffic.transport All_Traffic.user All_Traffic.vendor_product All_Traffic.direction
       All_Traffic.process_id
| `drop_dm_object_name(All_Traffic)`
| rename dest as C2
| rename src as dest
]
| table _time dest parent_process_name process_name process_path process process_id dest_port C2
| `searchprotocolhost_with_no_command_line_with_network_filter`