Privilege Escalation Case - SOC335-CVE-2024-49138-Exploitation-Detected

Alert Overview

Affected Hostname:

• Victor

Triggering Process:

• scohost.exe

Parent Process:

• C:\Windows\System32\WINDOWSPOWERSHELL\V1.0\powershell.exe

File Hash:

• b432dcf4a0f0b601b1d79848467137a5e25cab5a0b7b1224be9d3b6540122db9

Trigger Reason:

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

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Incident Response Case: Logon Failure and Malware Investigation

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

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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.

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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.

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Terminal History Analysis

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

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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).

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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

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Containment and Resolution

Containment:

We successfully contained the affected device.

Case Closure:

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

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Conclusion

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

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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.

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Additional Resources

• MITRE ATT&CK Framework
• AnyRun Malware Analysis

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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.

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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.

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

Explanation