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Unusual Process For MSSQL Service Accounts

Elastic Stack Serverless Security

Identifies unusual process executions using MSSQL Service accounts, which can indicate the exploitation/compromise of SQL instances. Attackers may exploit exposed MSSQL instances for initial access or lateral movement.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

  • logs-endpoint.events.process-*

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:

Tags:

  • Domain: Endpoint
  • OS: Windows
  • Use Case: Threat Detection
  • Tactic: Lateral Movement
  • Tactic: Persistence
  • Data Source: Elastic Defend
  • Rule Type: BBR

Version: 4

Rule authors:

  • Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

process where event.type == "start" and host.os.type == "windows" and
  user.name : (
    "SQLSERVERAGENT", "SQLAGENT$*",
    "MSSQLSERVER", "MSSQL$*",
    "MSSQLServerOLAPService",
    "ReportServer*", "MsDtsServer150",
    "MSSQLFDLauncher*",
    "SQLServer2005SQLBrowserUser$*",
    "SQLWriter", "winmgmt"
  ) and user.domain : "NT SERVICE" and
  not (
    (
      process.name : (
        "sqlceip.exe", "sqlservr.exe", "sqlagent.exe",
        "msmdsrv.exe", "ReportingServicesService.exe",
        "MsDtsSrvr.exe", "sqlbrowser.exe", "DTExec.exe",
        "SQLPS.exe", "fdhost.exe", "fdlauncher.exe",
        "SqlDumper.exe", "sqlsqm.exe", "DatabaseMail.exe",
        "ISServerExec.exe", "Microsoft.ReportingServices.Portal.WebHost.exe",
        "bcp.exe", "SQLCMD.exe", "DatabaseMail.exe"
      ) or
      process.executable : (
        "?:\\Windows\\System32\\wermgr.exe",
        "?:\\Windows\\System32\\conhost.exe",
        "?:\\Windows\\System32\\WerFault.exe"
      )
    ) and
    (
      process.code_signature.subject_name : ("Microsoft Corporation", "Microsoft Windows") and
      process.code_signature.trusted == true
    )
  ) and
  not (
    (process.name : "cmd.exe" and process.parent.name : "sqlservr.exe") or
    (process.name : "cmd.exe" and process.parent.name : "forfiles.exe" and process.command_line : "/c echo *")
  )

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM