File or Directory Deletion Command

Elastic Stack Serverless Security

This rule identifies the execution of commands that can be used to delete files and directories. Adversaries may delete files and directories on a host system, such as logs, browser history, or malware.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

• logs-endpoint.events.process-*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 60m

Searches indices from: now-119m (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: None

Tags:

• Domain: Endpoint
• OS: Windows
• Use Case: Threat Detection
• Tactic: Defense Evasion
• Rule Type: BBR
• Data Source: Elastic Defend

Version: 3

Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
(
  (process.name: "rundll32.exe" and process.args: "*InetCpl.cpl,Clear*") or
  (process.name: "reg.exe" and process.args:"delete") or
  (
    process.name: "cmd.exe" and process.args: ("*rmdir*", "*rm *", "rm") and
    not process.args : (
          "*\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\OneDrive\\*",
          "*\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\DockerDesktop\\*",
          "*\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\Report.*",
          "*\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\*.PackageExtraction"
    )
  ) or
  (process.name: "powershell.exe" and process.args: ("*rmdir", "rm", "rd", "*Remove-Item*", "del", "*]::Delete(*"))
) and not user.id : "S-1-5-18"

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

• Tactic:

  • Name: Defense Evasion
  • ID: TA0005
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/

• Technique:

  • Name: Indicator Removal
  • ID: T1070
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/

• Sub-technique:

  • Name: File Deletion
  • ID: T1070.004
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/004/