First Time Seen Remote Monitoring and Management Tool

IMPORTANT: This documentation is no longer updated. Refer to Elastic's version policy and the latest documentation.

First Time Seen Remote Monitoring and Management Tool

Adversaries may install legitimate remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools or remote access software on compromised endpoints for command-and-control (C2), persistence, and execution of native commands. This rule detects when a process is started whose name or code signature (or whose parent’s name or code signature) resembles commonly abused RMM/remote access tools, including first-time-seen child processes of such tools. New Terms type: host has not seen this process (or child-of-RMM pattern) before within the configured history window.

Rule type: new_terms

Rule indices:

logs-endpoint.events.process-*
endgame-*
winlogbeat-*
logs-windows.forwarded*
logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
logs-system.security*

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: Command and Control
Resources: Investigation Guide
Data Source: Elastic Defend
Data Source: Elastic Endgame
Data Source: Windows Security Event Logs
Data Source: Sysmon

Version: 117

Rule authors:

Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Investigation guide

edit

Triage and analysis

Investigating First Time Seen Remote Monitoring and Management Tool

Remote monitoring and management (RMM) and remote access software are commonly used by IT departments to provide support and manage endpoints. Attackers adopt the same tools to connect into interactive sessions, maintain access as a persistence mechanism, and drop malicious software.

This rule detects when an RMM or remote access process is seen on a host for the first time within the new_terms history window (see rule.new_terms), enabling analysts to investigate and enforce the correct usage of such tools.

Possible investigation steps

Investigate the process execution chain (parent process tree) for unknown processes. Examine their executable files for prevalence, whether they are located in expected locations, and if they are signed with valid digital signatures.
Check if the execution of the RMM or remote access tool is approved by the organization’s IT department.
Investigate other alerts associated with the user/host during the past 48 hours.
Contact the account owner and confirm whether they are aware of this activity.
If the tool is not approved for use in the organization, the employee could have been tricked into installing it and providing access to a malicious third party. Investigate whether this third party could be attempting to scam the end-user or gain access to the environment through social engineering.
Investigate any abnormal behavior by the subject process, such as network connections, registry or file modifications, and any spawned child processes.

False positive analysis

If an authorized support person or administrator used the tool to conduct legitimate support or remote access, consider reinforcing that only tooling approved by the IT policy should be used. The analyst can dismiss the alert if no other suspicious behavior is observed involving the host or users.

Response and remediation

Initiate the incident response process based on the outcome of the triage.
Isolate the involved host to prevent further post-compromise behavior.
Run a full scan using the antimalware tool in place. This scan can reveal additional artifacts left in the system, persistence mechanisms, and malware components.
Investigate credential exposure on systems compromised or used by the attacker to ensure all compromised accounts are identified. Reset passwords for these accounts and other potentially compromised credentials, such as email, business systems, and web services.
If an unauthorized third party did the access via social engineering, consider improvements to the security awareness program.
Enforce that only tooling approved by the IT policy should be used for remote access purposes and only by authorized staff.
Using the incident response data, update logging and audit policies to improve the mean time to detect (MTTD) and the mean time to respond (MTTR).

Setup

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Setup

This rule is designed for data generated by Elastic Defend, which provides native endpoint detection and response, along with event enrichments designed to work with our detection rules.

Setup instructions: https://ela.st/install-elastic-defend

Additional data sources

This rule also supports the following third-party data sources. For setup instructions, refer to the links below:

Rule query

edit

host.os.type: "windows" and

   event.category: "process" and event.type: "start" and

    (
        process.code_signature.subject_name : (
            "Action1 Corporation" or
            "AeroAdmin LLC" or
            "Ammyy LLC" or
            "Atera Networks Ltd" or
            "AWERAY PTE. LTD." or
            "BeamYourScreen GmbH" or
            "Bomgar Corporation" or
            "DUC FABULOUS CO.,LTD" or
            "DOMOTZ INC." or
            "DWSNET OÜ" or
            "FleetDeck Inc" or
            "GlavSoft LLC" or
            "GlavSoft LLC." or
            "Hefei Pingbo Network Technology Co. Ltd" or
            "IDrive, Inc." or
            "IMPERO SOLUTIONS LIMITED" or
            "Instant Housecall" or
            "ISL Online Ltd." or
            "LogMeIn, Inc." or
            "LUNIXAR SAS DE CV" or
            "Monitoring Client" or
            "MMSOFT Design Ltd." or
            "Nanosystems S.r.l." or
            "NetSupport Ltd" or
            "NetSupport Ltd." or
            "NETSUPPORT LTD." or
            "NinjaRMM, LLC" or
            "Parallels International GmbH" or
            "philandro Software GmbH" or
            "Pro Softnet Corporation" or
            "RealVNC" or
            "RealVNC Limited" or
            "BreakingSecurity.net" or
            "Remote Utilities LLC" or
            "Rocket Software, Inc." or
            "SAFIB" or
            "Servably, Inc." or
            "ShowMyPC INC" or
            "Splashtop Inc." or
            "Superops Inc." or
            "TeamViewer" or
            "TeamViewer GmbH" or
            "TeamViewer Germany GmbH" or
            "Techinline Limited" or
            "uvnc bvba" or
            "Yakhnovets Denis Aleksandrovich IP" or
            "Zhou Huabing" or
            "ZOHO Corporation Private Limited" or
            "Connectwise, LLC" or
			"ScreenConnect Client" or
			"Servably Inc."
        ) or

        process.name.caseless : (
            AA_v*.exe or
            "AeroAdmin.exe" or
            "AnyDesk.exe" or
            "apc_Admin.exe" or
            "apc_host.exe" or
            "AteraAgent.exe" or
            aweray_remote*.exe or
            "AweSun.exe" or
            "AgentMon.exe" or
            "B4-Service.exe" or
            "BASupSrvc.exe" or
            "bomgar-scc.exe" or
            "domotzagent.exe" or
            "domotz-windows-x64-10.exe" or
            "dwagsvc.exe" or
            "DWRCC.exe" or
            "ImperoClientSVC.exe" or
            "ImperoServerSVC.exe" or
            "ISLLight.exe" or
            "ISLLightClient.exe" or
            fleetdeck_commander*.exe or
            "getscreen.exe" or
            "g2aservice.exe" or
            "GoToAssistService.exe" or
            "gotohttp.exe" or
            "jumpcloud-agent.exe" or
            "level.exe" or
            "LvAgent.exe" or
            "LMIIgnition.exe" or
            "LogMeIn.exe" or
            "Lunixar.exe" or
            "LunixarRemote.exe" or
            "LunixarUpdater.exe" or
            "ManageEngine_Remote_Access_Plus.exe" or
            "MeshAgent.exe" or
            "Mikogo-Service.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgent.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgenPatcher.exe" or
            "ninjarmm-cli.exe" or
            "parsec.exe" or
            "PService.exe" or
            "quickassist.exe" or
            "r_server.exe" or
            "radmin.exe" or
            "radmin3.exe" or
            "RCClient.exe" or
            "RCService.exe" or
            "RemoteDesktopManager.exe" or
            "RemotePC.exe" or
            "RemotePCDesktop.exe" or
            "RemotePCService.exe" or
            "rfusclient.exe" or
            "ROMServer.exe" or
            "ROMViewer.exe" or
            "RPCSuite.exe" or
            "rserver3.exe" or
            "rustdesk.exe" or
            "rutserv.exe" or
            "rutview.exe" or
            "saazapsc.exe" or
            ScreenConnect*.exe or
            "session_win.exe" or
            "Remote Support.exe" or
            "smpcview.exe" or
            "spclink.exe" or
            "Splashtop-streamer.exe" or
            "Syncro.Overmind.Service.exe" or
            "SyncroLive.Agent.Runner.exe" or
            "SRService.exe" or
            "strwinclt.exe" or
            "Supremo.exe" or
            "SupremoService.exe" or
            "tacticalrmm.exe" or
            "tailscale.exe" or
            "tailscaled.exe" or
            "teamviewer.exe" or
            "ToDesk_Service.exe" or
            "twingate.exe" or
            "TiClientCore.exe" or
            "TSClient.exe" or
            "tvn.exe" or
            "tvnserver.exe" or
            "tvnviewer.exe" or
            UltraVNC*.exe or
            UltraViewer*.exe or
            "vncserver.exe" or
            "vncviewer.exe" or
            "winvnc.exe" or
            "winwvc.exe" or
            "Zaservice.exe" or
            "ZohoURS.exe" or
            "Velociraptor.exe" or
            "ToolsIQ.exe" or
            "CagService.exe" or
			"ScreenConnect.ClientService.exe" or
			"TiAgent.exe" or
			"GoToResolveProcessChecker.exe" or
			"GoToResolveUnattended.exe" or
			"Syncro.Installer.exe"
        ) or
        process.name : (
            AA_v*.exe or
            "AeroAdmin.exe" or
            "AnyDesk.exe" or
            "apc_Admin.exe" or
            "apc_host.exe" or
            "AteraAgent.exe" or
            aweray_remote*.exe or
            "AweSun.exe" or
            "AgentMon.exe" or
            "B4-Service.exe" or
            "BASupSrvc.exe" or
            "bomgar-scc.exe" or
            "CagService.exe" or
            "domotzagent.exe" or
            "domotz-windows-x64-10.exe" or
            "dwagsvc.exe" or
            "DWRCC.exe" or
            "ImperoClientSVC.exe" or
            "ImperoServerSVC.exe" or
            "ISLLight.exe" or
            "ISLLightClient.exe" or
            fleetdeck_commander*.exe or
            "getscreen.exe" or
            "g2aservice.exe" or
            "GoToAssistService.exe" or
            "gotohttp.exe" or
            "jumpcloud-agent.exe" or
            "level.exe" or
            "LvAgent.exe" or
            "LMIIgnition.exe" or
            "LogMeIn.exe" or
            "Lunixar.exe" or
            "LunixarRemote.exe" or
            "LunixarUpdater.exe" or
            "ManageEngine_Remote_Access_Plus.exe" or
            "MeshAgent.exe" or
            "meshagent.exe" or
            "Mikogo-Service.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgent.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgenPatcher.exe" or
            "ninjarmm-cli.exe" or
            "parsec.exe" or
            "PService.exe" or
            "quickassist.exe" or
            "r_server.exe" or
            "radmin.exe" or
            "radmin3.exe" or
            "RCClient.exe" or
            "RCService.exe" or
            "RemoteDesktopManager.exe" or
            "RemotePC.exe" or
            "RemotePCDesktop.exe" or
            "RemotePCService.exe" or
            "rfusclient.exe" or
            "ROMServer.exe" or
            "ROMViewer.exe" or
            "RPCSuite.exe" or
            "rserver3.exe" or
            "rustdesk.exe" or
            "rutserv.exe" or
            "rutview.exe" or
            "saazapsc.exe" or
            ScreenConnect*.exe or
            "session_win.exe" or
            "Remote Support.exe" or
            "smpcview.exe" or
            "spclink.exe" or
            "Splashtop-streamer.exe" or
            "Syncro.Overmind.Service.exe" or
            "SyncroLive.Agent.Runner.exe" or
            "SRService.exe" or
            "strwinclt.exe" or
            "Supremo.exe" or
            "SupremoService.exe" or
            "tacticalrmm.exe" or
            "tailscale.exe" or
            "tailscaled.exe" or
            "teamviewer.exe" or
            "TiClientCore.exe" or
            "ToDesk_Service.exe" or
            "twingate.exe" or
            "TSClient.exe" or
            "tvn.exe" or
            "tvnserver.exe" or
            "tvnviewer.exe" or
            UltraVNC*.exe or
            UltraViewer*.exe or
            "vncserver.exe" or
            "vncviewer.exe" or
            "winvnc.exe" or
            "winwvc.exe" or
            "Zaservice.exe" or
            "ZohoURS.exe" or
            "Velociraptor.exe" or
            "ToolsIQ.exe" or
			"ScreenConnect.ClientService.exe" or
			"TiAgent.exe" or
			"GoToResolveProcessChecker.exe" or
			"GoToResolveUnattended.exe" or
			"Syncro.Installer.exe"
        ) or
        process.parent.code_signature.subject_name : (
            "Action1 Corporation" or
            "AeroAdmin LLC" or
            "Ammyy LLC" or
            "Atera Networks Ltd" or
            "AWERAY PTE. LTD." or
            "BeamYourScreen GmbH" or
            "Bomgar Corporation" or
            "DUC FABULOUS CO.,LTD" or
            "DOMOTZ INC." or
            "DWSNET OÜ" or
            "FleetDeck Inc" or
            "GlavSoft LLC" or
            "GlavSoft LLC." or
            "Hefei Pingbo Network Technology Co. Ltd" or
            "IDrive, Inc." or
            "IMPERO SOLUTIONS LIMITED" or
            "Instant Housecall" or
            "ISL Online Ltd." or
            "LogMeIn, Inc." or
            "LUNIXAR SAS DE CV" or
            "Monitoring Client" or
            "MMSOFT Design Ltd." or
            "Nanosystems S.r.l." or
            "NetSupport Ltd" or
            "NetSupport Ltd." or
            "NETSUPPORT LTD." or
            "NinjaRMM, LLC" or
            "Parallels International GmbH" or
            "philandro Software GmbH" or
            "Pro Softnet Corporation" or
            "RealVNC" or
            "RealVNC Limited" or
            "BreakingSecurity.net" or
            "Remote Utilities LLC" or
            "Rocket Software, Inc." or
            "SAFIB" or
            "Servably, Inc." or
            "ShowMyPC INC" or
            "Splashtop Inc." or
            "Superops Inc." or
            "TeamViewer" or
            "TeamViewer GmbH" or
            "TeamViewer Germany GmbH" or
            "Techinline Limited" or
            "uvnc bvba" or
            "Yakhnovets Denis Aleksandrovich IP" or
            "Zhou Huabing" or
            "ZOHO Corporation Private Limited" or
            "Connectwise, LLC" or
			"ScreenConnect Client" or
			"Servably Inc."
        ) or
        process.parent.name: (
            AA_v*.exe or
            "AeroAdmin.exe" or
            "AnyDesk.exe" or
            "apc_Admin.exe" or
            "apc_host.exe" or
            "AteraAgent.exe" or
            aweray_remote*.exe or
            "AweSun.exe" or
            "AgentMon.exe" or
            "B4-Service.exe" or
            "BASupSrvc.exe" or
            "bomgar-scc.exe" or
            "domotzagent.exe" or
            "domotz-windows-x64-10.exe" or
            "dwagsvc.exe" or
            "DWRCC.exe" or
            "ImperoClientSVC.exe" or
            "ImperoServerSVC.exe" or
            "ISLLight.exe" or
            "ISLLightClient.exe" or
            fleetdeck_commander*.exe or
            "getscreen.exe" or
            "g2aservice.exe" or
            "GoToAssistService.exe" or
            "gotohttp.exe" or
            "jumpcloud-agent.exe" or
            "level.exe" or
            "LvAgent.exe" or
            "LMIIgnition.exe" or
            "LogMeIn.exe" or
            "Lunixar.exe" or
            "LunixarRemote.exe" or
            "LunixarUpdater.exe" or
            "ManageEngine_Remote_Access_Plus.exe" or
            "MeshAgent.exe" or
            "Mikogo-Service.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgent.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgenPatcher.exe" or
            "ninjarmm-cli.exe" or
            "parsec.exe" or
            "PService.exe" or
            "quickassist.exe" or
            "r_server.exe" or
            "radmin.exe" or
            "radmin3.exe" or
            "RCClient.exe" or
            "RCService.exe" or
            "RemoteDesktopManager.exe" or
            "RemotePC.exe" or
            "RemotePCDesktop.exe" or
            "RemotePCService.exe" or
            "rfusclient.exe" or
            "ROMServer.exe" or
            "ROMViewer.exe" or
            "RPCSuite.exe" or
            "rserver3.exe" or
            "rustdesk.exe" or
            "rutserv.exe" or
            "rutview.exe" or
            "saazapsc.exe" or
            ScreenConnect*.exe or
            "session_win.exe" or
            "Remote Support.exe" or
            "smpcview.exe" or
            "spclink.exe" or
            "Splashtop-streamer.exe" or
            "Syncro.Overmind.Service.exe" or
            "SyncroLive.Agent.Runner.exe" or
            "SRService.exe" or
            "strwinclt.exe" or
            "Supremo.exe" or
            "SupremoService.exe" or
            "tacticalrmm.exe" or
            "tailscale.exe" or
            "tailscaled.exe" or
            "teamviewer.exe" or
            "ToDesk_Service.exe" or
            "twingate.exe" or
            "TiClientCore.exe" or
            "TSClient.exe" or
            "tvn.exe" or
            "tvnserver.exe" or
            "tvnviewer.exe" or
            UltraVNC*.exe or
            UltraViewer*.exe or
            "vncserver.exe" or
            "vncviewer.exe" or
            "winvnc.exe" or
            "winwvc.exe" or
            "Zaservice.exe" or
            "ZohoURS.exe" or
            "Velociraptor.exe" or
            "ToolsIQ.exe" or
            "CagService.exe" or
			"TiAgent.exe" or
			"GoToResolveProcessChecker.exe" or
			"GoToResolveUnattended.exe"
        )
  ) and
  not (process.pe.original_file_name : ("G2M.exe" or "Updater.exe" or "powershell.exe") and process.code_signature.subject_name : "LogMeIn, Inc.")

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK^TM

Tactic:
- Name: Command and Control
- ID: TA0011
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0011/
Technique:
- Name: Remote Access Tools
- ID: T1219
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1219/
Sub-technique:
- Name: Remote Desktop Software
- ID: T1219.002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1219/002/

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