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.forwarded*
logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
endgame-*
logs-system.security*
logs-m365_defender.event-*
logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*
logs-crowdstrike.fdr*

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
Data Source: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Data Source: Sysmon
Data Source: SentinelOne
Data Source: Crowdstrike

Version: 209

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",
    "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\packages\\kalilinux*",
    "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\kali.exe",
    "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume?\\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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