Suspicious Remote Registry Access via SeBackupPrivilege

Elastic Stack Serverless Security

Identifies remote access to the registry via an account with Backup Operators group membership. This may indicate an attempt to exfiltrate credentials via dumping the SAM registry hive in preparation for credential access and privileges elevation.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

• winlogbeat-*
• logs-system.*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5m

Searches indices from: now-9m (https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/common-options.html#date-math[Date Math format], see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

• https://github.com/mpgn/BackupOperatorToDA
• https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Wh04m1001/Random/main/BackupOperators.cpp

Tags:

• Elastic
• Host
• Windows
• Threat Detection
• Lateral Movement
• Credential Access

Version: 1

Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

The 'Audit Detailed File Share' audit policy is required be configured (Success) on Domain Controllers and Sensitive Windows Servers.
Steps to implement the logging policy with with Advanced Audit Configuration:

Computer Configuration >
Policies >
Windows Settings >
Security Settings >
Advanced Audit Policies Configuration >
Audit Policies >
Object Access >
Audit Detailed File Share (Success)

The 'Special Logon' audit policy must be configured (Success).
Steps to implement the logging policy with with Advanced Audit Configuration:

Computer Configuration >
Policies >
Windows Settings >
Security Settings >
Advanced Audit Policies Configuration >
Audit Policies >
Logon/Logoff >
Special Logon (Success)

sequence by host.id, winlog.event_data.SubjectLogonId with maxspan=1m
 [iam where event.action == "logged-in-special"  and
  winlog.event_data.PrivilegeList : "SeBackupPrivilege"]
 [any where event.action == "Detailed File Share" and winlog.event_data.RelativeTargetName : "winreg"]

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

• Tactic:

  • Name: Credential Access
  • ID: TA0006
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0006/

• Technique:

  • Name: OS Credential Dumping
  • ID: T1003
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/

• Sub-technique:

  • Name: Security Account Manager
  • ID: T1003.002
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/002/

• Tactic:

  • Name: Lateral Movement
  • ID: TA0008
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/

• Technique:

  • Name: Remote Services
  • ID: T1021
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/