Sensitive File Dump Via Wbadmin.EXE — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), frack113. Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2024-05-10 / not supplied.

{
  "category": "process_creation",
  "product": "windows"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 38d1461eb2bcfdd6824f140c51e2ad881c1889b73ef8dfa28ca63bfee646aa69

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

title: Sensitive File Dump Via Wbadmin.EXE
id: 8b93a509-1cb8-42e1-97aa-ee24224cdc15
status: test
description: |
    Detects the dump of highly sensitive files such as "NTDS.DIT" and "SECURITY" hive.
    Attackers can leverage the "wbadmin" utility in order to dump sensitive files that might contain credential or sensitive information.
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/2cc01b01132b5c304027a658c698ae09dd6a92bf/yml/OSBinaries/Wbadmin.yml
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Wbadmin/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-recovery
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-backup
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), frack113
date: 2024-05-10
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wbadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'WBADMIN.EXE'
    selection_backup:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'start'
            - 'backup'
    selection_path:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\config\SAM'
            - '\config\SECURITY'
            - '\config\SYSTEM'
            - '\Windows\NTDS\NTDS.dit'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate backup operation by authorized administrators. Matches must be investigated and allowed on a case by case basis.
level: high

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Legitimate backup operation by authorized administrators. Matches must be investigated and allowed on a case by case basis.

Source references

• https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/2cc01b01132b5c304027a658c698ae09dd6a92bf/yml/OSBinaries/Wbadmin.yml
• https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Wbadmin/
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-recovery
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-backup