title: Executable Used by PlugX in Uncommon Location
id: aeab5ec5-be14-471a-80e8-e344418305c2
status: test
description: Detects the execution of an executable that is typically used by PlugX for DLL side loading started from an uncommon location
author: Florian Roth
references:
  - http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2016/03/10/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-36/
  - https://countuponsecurity.com/2017/06/07/threat-hunting-in-the-enterprise-with-appcompatprocessor/
date: 2017/06/12
modified: 2022/01/28
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_cammute:
    Image|endswith: '\CamMute.exe'
  filter_cammute:
    Image|contains:
      - '\Lenovo\Communication Utility\'
      - '\Lenovo\Communications Utility\'
  selection_chrome_frame:
    Image|endswith: '\chrome_frame_helper.exe'
  filter_chrome_frame:
    Image|contains: '\Google\Chrome\application\'
  selection_devemu:
    Image|endswith: '\dvcemumanager.exe'
  filter_devemu:
    Image|contains: '\Microsoft Device Emulator\'
  selection_gadget:
    Image|endswith: '\Gadget.exe'
  filter_gadget:
    Image|contains: '\Windows Media Player\'
  selection_hcc:
    Image|endswith: '\hcc.exe'
  filter_hcc:
    Image|contains: '\HTML Help Workshop\'
  selection_hkcmd:
    Image|endswith: '\hkcmd.exe'
  filter_hkcmd:
    Image|contains:
      - '\System32\'
      - '\SysNative\'
      - '\SysWow64\'
  selection_mc:
    Image|endswith: '\Mc.exe'
  filter_mc:
    Image|contains:
      - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
      - '\Microsoft SDK'
      - '\Windows Kit'
  selection_msmpeng:
    Image|endswith: '\MsMpEng.exe'
  filter_msmpeng:
    Image|contains:
      - '\Microsoft Security Client\'
      - '\Windows Defender\'
      - '\AntiMalware\'
  selection_msseces:
    Image|endswith: '\msseces.exe'
  filter_msseces:
    Image|contains:
      - '\Microsoft Security Center\'
      - '\Microsoft Security Client\'
      - '\Microsoft Security Essentials\'
  selection_oinfo:
    Image|endswith: '\OInfoP11.exe'
  filter_oinfo:
    Image|contains: '\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\'
  selection_oleview:
    Image|endswith: '\OleView.exe'
  filter_oleview:
    Image|contains:
      - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
      - '\Microsoft SDK'
      - '\Windows Kit'
      - '\Windows Resource Kit\'
  selection_rc:
    Image|endswith: '\rc.exe'
  filter_rc:
    Image|contains:
      - '\Microsoft Visual Studio'
      - '\Microsoft SDK'
      - '\Windows Kit'
      - '\Windows Resource Kit\'
      - '\Microsoft.NET\'
  condition: ( selection_cammute and not filter_cammute ) or ( selection_chrome_frame and not filter_chrome_frame ) or ( selection_devemu and not filter_devemu ) or ( selection_gadget and not filter_gadget ) or ( selection_hcc and not filter_hcc ) or ( selection_hkcmd and not filter_hkcmd ) or ( selection_mc and not filter_mc ) or ( selection_msmpeng and not filter_msmpeng ) or ( selection_msseces and not filter_msseces ) or ( selection_oinfo and not filter_oinfo ) or ( selection_oleview and not filter_oleview ) or ( selection_rc and not filter_rc )
fields:
  - CommandLine
  - ParentCommandLine
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
tags:
  - attack.s0013
  - attack.defense_evasion
  - attack.t1574.002
