• Unusual or suspicious patterns of behavior linked to the hash have been identified, indicating potential exploitation of CVE-2024-49138.

Incident Response Case: Logon Failure and Malware Investigation

This repository documents an incident response case involving logon failures, malicious activity detection, and containment efforts.

Investigation Overview

We start by investigating the alert received and proceed to analyze logs from Log Management and Endpoint Security.

Alert and Logs

Alert Summary:

• Error Code: 0xC000006D

Translation:

• STATUS_LOGON_FAILURE: Indicates a logon attempt failed, usually due to incorrect credentials.

Logs Observed:

There are multiple OS types, with either Admin or Guest accounts showing Error Code 0xC000006D.

Hash Analysis

We analyzed the hash provided in the alert and confirmed it as malicious. MITRE ATT&CK framework mapping and malware behavior were also validated.

Terminal History Analysis

By inspecting terminal history, we identified suspicious activity, including a $url command retrieving a potentially malicious URL.

Playbook Execution

Using the gathered information, we proceeded with the appropriate playbook steps for this case.

Key Findings:

• Malware confirmed as malicious.
• Containment status: Not achieved (at the time of log and endpoint review).

Command and Control (C2) Analysis

We analyzed the malware behavior via AnyRun and identified the Command and Control (C2) address. This was confirmed through network behavior analysis.

Status Update:

• C2 Address: Accessed

Containment and Resolution

Containment:

We successfully contained the affected device.

Case Closure:

We finalized the case with SOC Analyst notes and playbook execution documentation.

Conclusion

The case was closed with a final review and scoring to assess the accuracy of actions taken during the investigation.

Key Takeaways

1. Error Code Analysis: Understanding 0xC000006D logon failures is critical for identifying suspicious activity.
2. Hash Validation: Always confirm alerts against known malware databases.
3. Terminal Analysis: Terminal history provides valuable insight into potential command execution.
4. C2 Detection: Tools like AnyRun can streamline identification of C2 addresses.
5. Containment: Timely containment prevents further compromise of the network.

Additional Resources

• MITRE ATT&CK Framework
• AnyRun Malware Analysis

This repository serves as a reference for handling similar incidents. Contributions and discussions are welcome!

Command Analysis

Command 1: C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k termsvcs -s TermService

Explanation

1. C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe:

   • Service Host Process: A core Windows system process used to host multiple Windows services implemented as dynamic-link libraries (DLLs).
   • Legitimately located in C:\Windows\System32\.

2. -k termsvcs:

   • Specifies the service group (termsvcs) for this instance of svchost.exe.
   • The termsvcs group is specifically related to Terminal Services.

3. -s TermService:

   • Specifies the exact service to start: Remote Desktop Services (TermService).
   • This service allows remote connections to the computer, enabling the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

Purpose of TermService

• Remote Desktop Services:
  • Manages remote desktop connections, including user sessions over RDP.
  • Essential for enabling remote administration or remote desktop features.

Command 2: C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p -s Schedule

Explanation

1. C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe:

   • Service Host Process: A critical Windows system process used to host services implemented as dynamic-link libraries (DLLs).
   • Always ensure this file is located in C:\Windows\system32\.

2. -k netsvcs:

   • Specifies the service group (netsvcs) that this instance of svchost.exe is hosting.
   • The netsvcs group typically includes networking-related and other essential services.

3. -p:

   • Indicates the service should run in persistent mode, ensuring it stays active and is automatically restarted if needed.

4. -s Schedule:

   • Specifies a specific service within the group to load: Task Scheduler (Schedule).
   • The Task Scheduler service manages tasks that run at specific times or in response to certain triggers.

5. Process ID:

   • 1996 is the Process ID (PID) for the instance of svchost.exe managing the Task Scheduler service.

Command 3: C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k DcomLaunch -p

Explanation

1. C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe:

   • Service Host Process: A core Windows system process that acts as a host for running multiple services from dynamic-link libraries (DLLs).

2. -k DcomLaunch:

   • Specifies the service group the process is hosting.
   • DcomLaunch: Refers to the DCOM Server Process Launcher, responsible for launching Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) services.

3. -p:

   • Indicates that the process should be persistent and restarted if terminated unexpectedly.

Purpose of DcomLaunch

• System Component: Vital for many Windows operations, such as enabling communication between applications, activating processes, and handling system-level RPC requests.
• Dependencies: Many core services, including Windows Update and COM-related applications, rely on this process.

Taskhostw.exe and Key Roaming

taskhostw.exe

• Task Host Window: A generic host process for Windows tasks.
• Location: The legitimate executable is located in C:\Windows\System32\.

Key Roaming

• A Windows feature enabling credential roaming for certificates and private keys across devices in an Active Directory environment.

Connection:

• If taskhostw.exe interacts with Key Roaming, it may indicate background tasks syncing credentials in an Active Directory environment.