IMPORTANT: No additional bug fixes or documentation updates
will be released for this version. For the latest information, see the
current release documentation.
Program Files Directory Masquerading
editProgram Files Directory Masquerading
editIdentifies execution from a directory masquerading as the Windows Program Files directories. These paths are trusted and usually host trusted third party programs. An adversary may leverage masquerading, along with low privileges to bypass detections allowlisting those folders.
Rule type: eql
Rule indices:
- winlogbeat-*
- logs-endpoint.events.process-*
- logs-windows.forwarded*
- logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
- endgame-*
- logs-system.security*
- logs-m365_defender.event-*
- logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*
- logs-crowdstrike.fdr*
Severity: medium
Risk score: 47
Runs every: 5m
Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time
)
Maximum alerts per execution: 100
References: None
Tags:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Windows
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Defense Evasion
- Data Source: Elastic Endgame
- Data Source: Elastic Defend
- Data Source: System
- Data Source: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Data Source: Sysmon
- Data Source: SentinelOne
- Data Source: Crowdstrike
Version: 312
Rule authors:
- Elastic
Rule license: Elastic License v2
Rule query
editprocess where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and process.executable : ( "C:\\*Program*Files*\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\*Program*Files*\\*.exe" ) and not process.executable : ( "?:\\Program Files\\*.exe", "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\*.exe", "?:\\Users\\*.exe", "?:\\ProgramData\\*.exe", "?:\\Windows\\Downloaded Program Files\\*.exe", "?:\\Windows\\Temp\\.opera\\????????????\\CProgram?FilesOpera*\\*.exe", "?:\\Windows\\Temp\\.opera\\????????????\\CProgram?Files?(x86)Opera*\\*.exe" ) and not ( event.dataset == "crowdstrike.fdr" and process.executable : ( "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\Program Files\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\Program Files (x86)\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\Users\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\ProgramData\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\Windows\\Downloaded Program Files\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\Windows\\Temp\\.opera\\????????????\\CProgram?FilesOpera*\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\Windows\\Temp\\.opera\\????????????\\CProgram?Files?(x86)Opera*\\*.exe" ) )
Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
-
Tactic:
- Name: Defense Evasion
- ID: TA0005
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/
-
Technique:
- Name: Masquerading
- ID: T1036
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1036/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: Match Legitimate Name or Location
- ID: T1036.005
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1036/005/