Deleting Backup Catalogs with Wbadmin

Identifies use of the wbadmin.exe to delete the backup catalog. Ransomware and other malware may do this to prevent system recovery.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

• winlogbeat-*
• logs-endpoint.events.*
• logs-windows.*

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: None

Tags:

• Elastic
• Host
• Windows
• Threat Detection
• Impact

Version: 10

Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

process where event.type in ("start", "process_started") and
  (process.name : "wbadmin.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "WBADMIN.EXE") and
  process.args : "catalog" and process.args : "delete"

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

• Tactic:

  • Name: Impact
  • ID: TA0040
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0040/

• Technique:

  • Name: Inhibit System Recovery
  • ID: T1490
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1490/