Creation of SettingContent-ms Files

Elastic Stack Serverless Security

Identifies the suspicious creation of SettingContents-ms files, which have been used in attacks to achieve code execution while evading defenses.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

• logs-endpoint.events.file-*
• logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
• endgame-*
• winlogbeat-*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

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://posts.specterops.io/the-tale-of-settingcontent-ms-files-f1ea253e4d39

Tags:

• Domain: Endpoint
• OS: Windows
• Use Case: Threat Detection
• Tactic: Execution
• Data Source: Elastic Defend
• Rule Type: BBR
• Data Source: Sysmon
• Data Source: Elastic Endgame

Version: 106

Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

file where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "creation" and
  file.extension : "settingcontent-ms" and
  not file.path : (
    "?:\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\windows.immersivecontrolpanel_*\\LocalState\\Indexed\\Settings\\*",
    "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\Windows\\WinSxS\\amd64_microsoft-windows-s..*\\*.settingcontent-ms"
  )

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

• Tactic:

  • Name: Execution
  • ID: TA0002
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/

• Technique:

  • Name: User Execution
  • ID: T1204
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/

• Sub-technique:

  • Name: Malicious File
  • ID: T1204.002
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/002/

• Tactic:

  • Name: Initial Access
  • ID: TA0001
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0001/

• Technique:

  • Name: Phishing
  • ID: T1566
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/

• Sub-technique:

  • Name: Spearphishing Attachment
  • ID: T1566.001
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001/