lateral_movement_unusual_process_sql_accounts.toml

[metadata]
creation_date = "2023/08/25"
integration = ["endpoint"]
maturity = "production"
min_stack_comments = "New fields added: required_fields, related_integrations, setup"
min_stack_version = "8.3.0"
updated_date = "2023/10/13"
bypass_bbr_timing = true

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
description = """
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.
"""
from = "now-9m"
index = ["logs-endpoint.events.*"]
language = "eql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Unusual Process For MSSQL Service Accounts"
references = [
    "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/08/24/flax-typhoon-using-legitimate-software-to-quietly-access-taiwanese-organizations/",
    "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/configure-windows-service-accounts-and-permissions?view=sql-server-ver16"
]
risk_score = 21
rule_id = "e74d645b-fec6-431e-bf93-ca64a538e0de"
severity = "low"
tags = ["Domain: Endpoint", "OS: Windows", "Use Case: Threat Detection", "Tactic: Lateral Movement", "Tactic: Persistence", "Data Source: Elastic Defend", "Rule Type: BBR"]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "eql"
building_block_type = "default"

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"
    ) and (process.code_signature.subject_name : "Microsoft Corporation" and process.code_signature.trusted == true)
  )
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1210"
name = "Exploitation of Remote Services"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1210/"


[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0008"
name = "Lateral Movement"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/"

[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1505"
name = "Server Software Component"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1505/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1505.001"
name = "SQL Stored Procedures"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1505/001/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0003"
name = "Persistence"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/"