Attempt to Install Kali Linux via WSL

Detects attempts to install or use Kali Linux via Windows Subsystem for Linux. Adversaries may enable and use WSL for Linux to avoid detection.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

winlogbeat-*
logs-endpoint.events.process-*
logs-windows.*
endgame-*
logs-system.security*

Severity: high

Risk score: 73

Runs every: 5m

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl-config

Tags:

Domain: Endpoint
OS: Windows
Use Case: Threat Detection
Tactic: Defense Evasion
Data Source: Elastic Endgame
Data Source: Elastic Defend
Data Source: System

Version: 8

Rule authors:

Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

edit

process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
(
 (process.name : "wsl.exe" and process.args : ("-d", "--distribution", "-i", "--install") and process.args : "kali*") or
 process.executable :
        ("?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\packages\\kalilinux*",
         "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\kali.exe",
         "?:\\Program Files*\\WindowsApps\\KaliLinux.*\\kali.exe")
 )

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK^TM

Tactic:
- Name: Defense Evasion
- ID: TA0005
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/
Technique:
- Name: Indirect Command Execution
- ID: T1202
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1202/

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