ImageLoad via Windows Update Auto Update Clientedit
Identifies abuse of the Windows Update Auto Update Client (wuauclt.exe) to load an arbitrary DLL. This behavior is used as a defense evasion technique to blend-in malicious activity with legitimate Windows software.
Rule type: eql
Rule indices:
- logs-endpoint.events.*
- winlogbeat-*
- logs-windows.*
- endgame-*
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:
Tags:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Windows
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Defense Evasion
- Data Source: Elastic Endgame
- Data Source: Elastic Defend
Version: 106
Rule authors:
- Elastic
Rule license: Elastic License v2
Investigation guideedit
Rule queryedit
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
(process.pe.original_file_name == "wuauclt.exe" or process.name : "wuauclt.exe") and
/* necessary windows update client args to load a dll */
process.args : "/RunHandlerComServer" and process.args : "/UpdateDeploymentProvider" and
/* common paths writeable by a standard user where the target DLL can be placed */
process.args : ("C:\\Users\\*.dll", "C:\\ProgramData\\*.dll", "C:\\Windows\\Temp\\*.dll", "C:\\Windows\\Tasks\\*.dll")
Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
-
Tactic:
- Name: Defense Evasion
- ID: TA0005
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/
-
Technique:
- Name: System Binary Proxy Execution
- ID: T1218
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/