Node.js Pre or Post-Install Script Execution
editNode.js Pre or Post-Install Script Execution
editThis rule detects the execution of Node.js pre or post-install scripts. These scripts are executed by the Node.js package manager (npm) during the installation of packages. Adversaries may abuse this technique to execute arbitrary commands on the system and establish persistence. This activity was observed in the wild as part of the Shai-Hulud worm.
Rule type: eql
Rule indices:
- logs-endpoint.events.process*
- logs-crowdstrike.fdr*
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: Linux
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Persistence
- Tactic: Execution
- Tactic: Defense Evasion
- Data Source: Elastic Defend
- Resources: Investigation Guide
- Data Source: Crowdstrike
Version: 2
Rule authors:
- Elastic
Rule license: Elastic License v2
Setup
editSetup
This rule requires data coming in from Elastic Defend.
Elastic Defend Integration Setup
Elastic Defend is integrated into the Elastic Agent using Fleet. Upon configuration, the integration allows the Elastic Agent to monitor events on your host and send data to the Elastic Security app.
Prerequisite Requirements:
- Fleet is required for Elastic Defend.
- To configure Fleet Server refer to the documentation.
The following steps should be executed in order to add the Elastic Defend integration on a Linux System:
- Go to the Kibana home page and click "Add integrations".
- In the query bar, search for "Elastic Defend" and select the integration to see more details about it.
- Click "Add Elastic Defend".
- Configure the integration name and optionally add a description.
- Select the type of environment you want to protect, either "Traditional Endpoints" or "Cloud Workloads".
- Select a configuration preset. Each preset comes with different default settings for Elastic Agent, you can further customize these later by configuring the Elastic Defend integration policy. Helper guide.
- We suggest selecting "Complete EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)" as a configuration setting, that provides "All events; all preventions"
- Enter a name for the agent policy in "New agent policy name". If other agent policies already exist, you can click the "Existing hosts" tab and select an existing policy instead. For more details on Elastic Agent configuration settings, refer to the helper guide.
- Click "Save and Continue".
- To complete the integration, select "Add Elastic Agent to your hosts" and continue to the next section to install the Elastic Agent on your hosts. For more details on Elastic Defend refer to the helper guide.
Rule query
editsequence by host.id with maxspan=10s
[process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and event.action in ("exec", "ProcessRollup2") and process.name == "node" and process.args == "install"] by process.entity_id
[process where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type == "start" and event.action in ("exec", "ProcessRollup2") and process.parent.name == "node"] by process.parent.entity_id
Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
-
Tactic:
- Name: Persistence
- ID: TA0003
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/
-
Technique:
- Name: Create or Modify System Process
- ID: T1543
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/
-
Technique:
- Name: Hijack Execution Flow
- ID: T1574
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/
-
Tactic:
- Name: Execution
- ID: TA0002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/
-
Technique:
- Name: Command and Scripting Interpreter
- ID: T1059
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: Unix Shell
- ID: T1059.004
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/004/
-
Tactic:
- Name: Defense Evasion
- ID: TA0005
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/