Detect ASUS Live Update Embedded Malicious Code (CVE-2025-59374) in Elastic Security
Detects indicators of compromise related to CVE-2025-59374, a supply chain attack where ASUS Live Update software contained embedded malicious code (CWE-506). This mirrors the ShadowHammer operation pattern where threat actors compromised the ASUS software update infrastructure to deliver backdoored updates to endpoints. Detection focuses on suspicious child processes spawned by ASUS Live Update, anomalous network connections, and staging activity consistent with backdoor execution.
MITRE ATT&CK
Elastic Detection Query
sequence by host.name with maxspan=5m
[process where event.type == "start"
and process.parent.name : ("LiveUpdate.exe", "LivaUpdate.exe", "AsusLiveUpdate.exe")
and process.name : ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "wscript.exe", "cscript.exe", "mshta.exe", "rundll32.exe", "regsvr32.exe", "certutil.exe", "bitsadmin.exe", "wmic.exe", "schtasks.exe", "sc.exe")]
[any where event.category : ("network", "file") and
(
(event.category == "network" and destination.port in (80, 443, 4444, 8080, 8443, 1337)) or
(event.category == "file" and file.path : ("*\\Temp\\*", "*\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\*", "*\\ProgramData\\*"))
)]EQL sequence detecting ASUS Live Update spawning a suspicious child process followed within 5 minutes by network activity or suspicious file writes, indicating multi-stage backdoor execution.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate patching workflows that write temporary files during ASUS update installation
- Security tools inspecting ASUS update binaries and generating correlated network events
- Automated software inventory tools triggered post-update
Other platforms for CVE-2025-59374
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Simulate ASUS Live Update Spawning CMD Child Process
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 showing LiveUpdate.exe as parent of cmd.exe; DeviceProcessEvents in MDE showing the parent-child relationship with command-line arguments
- Test 2Simulate ASUS Live Update Network Beacon
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 3 or DeviceNetworkEvents showing LiveUpdate.exe initiating outbound HTTP connection to external IP; DNS query logs for associated domain lookups
- Test 3Simulate ASUS Live Update Dropping Payload to Temp
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 11 (FileCreate) showing executable written to TEMP directory; DeviceFileEvents in MDE capturing the file drop with SHA256 hash
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for CVE-2025-59374 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.