Detect Masquerade Task or Service in CrowdStrike LogScale
Adversaries may attempt to manipulate the name of a task or service to make it appear legitimate or benign. Tasks/services executed by the Task Scheduler or systemd will typically be given a name and/or description. Windows services will have a service name as well as a display name. Adversaries may give tasks or services names that are similar or identical to those of legitimate ones, such as 'Windows Update Security', 'Google Chrome Security Update', or 'Microsoft Network Realtime Inspection Service'.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Defense Evasion
- Technique
- T1036 Masquerading
- Sub-technique
- T1036.004 Masquerade Task or Service
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1036/004/
LogScale Detection Query
// CrowdStrike LogScale (Falcon) — Masqueraded Service Installation T1036.004
#event_simpleName = ServiceInstall
| regex(field=ServiceDisplayName, regex="(?i)(windows update security|microsoft network realtime|windows advanced task manager|google chrome security update|windows video service|windows power efficiency|system authorization service|windows management help|microsoft support|windows user service)", as=KnownSuspiciousName)
| regex(field=ServiceDisplayName, regex="(?i)(svchost|update|security|microsoft|google|chrome|adobe).*(service|task|helper|agent)", as=GenericMimicName)
| where KnownSuspiciousName = true OR GenericMimicName = true
| table([timestamp, ComputerName, UserName, ServiceDisplayName, ServiceImagePath, ServiceObjectName, ServiceType, ServiceStartType])
| sort(timestamp, order=desc)
// Alternative: catch masquerade via process ancestry (services.exe spawning unexpected children)
// #event_simpleName = ProcessRollup2
// | where ParentBaseFileName = "services.exe"
// | regex(field=ImageFileName, regex="(?i)(windows update|microsoft network|google chrome|system authorization|windows management)", as=MimickedBinary)
// | where MimickedBinary = true
// | groupBy([ComputerName, UserName, ImageFileName, CommandLine], function=count())CrowdStrike LogScale (CQL) query targeting Falcon ServiceInstall events to detect masqueraded service names. Uses regex matching against known suspicious name patterns and generic vendor-name mimicry. Includes commented alternative query for process ancestry-based detection.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate CrowdStrike sensor updates or other Falcon platform components that may install or update service registrations with names matching the generic pattern
- Enterprise MDM or endpoint management platforms (Ivanti, ManageEngine) that register management agent services with names containing 'Windows', 'Update', or 'Security'
- Software with OEM or white-labeled components that adopt Microsoft or Google product naming conventions in their service identifiers during installation
Other platforms for T1036.004
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 1Create Masquerading Windows Service
Expected signal: Windows System Event ID 7045: A service was installed with ServiceName=WindowsUpdateSecurity and DisplayName='Windows Update Security Patches'. Sysmon Event ID 12/13: Registry key creation under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WindowsUpdateSecurity.
- Test 2Create Masquerading Scheduled Task
Expected signal: Security Event ID 4698: A scheduled task was created with TaskName=AdobeFlashSync. Sysmon Event ID 1: schtasks.exe process creation with /create command line.
- Test 3Create Masquerading Systemd Service (Linux)
Expected signal: File creation event for /etc/systemd/system/dbus-inotifier.service. Process execution of systemctl daemon-reload. Auditd events for write to /etc/systemd/system/.
References (6)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1036/004/
- http://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/2016/11/unit42-shamoon-2-return-disttrack-wiper/
- https://vms.drweb.com/virus/?i=4276269
- https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490996.aspx
- https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/systemd.service.html
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1036.004/T1036.004.md
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