Detect Local Data Staging in Sumo Logic CSE
Adversaries may stage collected data in a central location or directory on the local system prior to exfiltration. Data may be kept in separate files or combined into one file through archiving techniques. Adversaries commonly use temp directories, hidden folders, or application data paths to aggregate stolen files, credentials, screenshots, keylogger output, and memory dumps before transferring them out. Interactive command shells (cmd.exe, bash) and scripting languages are frequently used to copy and consolidate data into staging locations.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Collection
- Technique
- T1074 Data Staged
- Sub-technique
- T1074.001 Local Data Staging
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1074/001/
Sumo Detection Query
_sourceCategory=windows/sysmon OR _sourceCategory=windows/security
| where EventCode in ("1", "11", "4688")
| eval staging_path = if(
matches(toLowerCase(coalesce(TargetFilename, CommandLine, "")),
"(\\\\temp\\\\|\\\\tmp\\\\|\\\\programdata\\\\|\\\\users\\\\public\\\\|\\\\appdata\\\\local\\\\temp\\\\|\\\\windows\\\\temp\\\\|\\\\appdata\\\\roaming\\\\)"
), 1, 0)
| eval bulk_copy = if(
EventCode = "1" and
matches(toLowerCase(CommandLine), "(xcopy|robocopy|\\bcopy\\b|\\bmove\\b|cp\\s|mv\\s)") and
staging_path = 1, 1, 0)
| eval archive_creation = if(
EventCode = "11" and
matches(toLowerCase(TargetFilename), "(\.zip|\.rar|\.7z|\.tar|\.gz|\.tmp|\.dat|\.db|\.bak)$") and
staging_path = 1, 1, 0)
| eval output_redirect = if(
EventCode = "1" and
matches(CommandLine, "(>>|>\\s+)") and
staging_path = 1, 1, 0)
| eval staging_tools = if(
EventCode = "1" and
matches(toLowerCase(CommandLine), "(xcopy|robocopy|7z\.exe|winrar|compact\\s|tar\\s)"), 1, 0)
| eval SuspicionScore = bulk_copy + archive_creation + output_redirect + staging_tools
| where SuspicionScore > 0
| where !matches(toLowerCase(coalesce(Image, ParentImage, TargetFilename, "")),
"(msmpeng|svchost|tiworker|wuauclt|msiexec|onedrive|teams|slack|acronis|veeam)")
| eval EventDescription = if(EventCode = "1", "Process Create",
if(EventCode = "11", "File Create",
if(EventCode = "4688", "Process Create (Security)", "Unknown")))
| eval ProcessOrFile = coalesce(Image, TargetFilename)
| eval CmdOrPath = coalesce(CommandLine, TargetFilename)
| fields _messageTime, Computer, User, EventCode, EventDescription, ProcessOrFile,
CmdOrPath, ParentImage, ParentCommandLine,
bulk_copy, archive_creation, output_redirect, staging_tools, SuspicionScore
| sort by _messageTime descDetects T1074.001 Local Data Staging via Sumo Logic CSE using Sysmon Event IDs 1 and 11 alongside Security Event 4688. Applies a weighted scoring model across bulk copy operations, archive file creation in staging paths, output redirection into staging directories, and known staging tool usage.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- IT asset management and endpoint management platforms (Tanium, BigFix, Kaseya) use robocopy and xcopy extensively to distribute software packages and configuration files to staging directories
- Security scanning tools and vulnerability assessment software create temporary database files (.db, .dat) in AppData and ProgramData during host enumeration and asset scanning
- Legitimate archiving by users compressing project files or personal documents into zip or 7z archives in their Downloads or AppData directories before emailing or cloud-uploading
Other platforms for T1074.001
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 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 1Stage Files to Temp Directory Using CMD Copy
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for cmd.exe with CommandLine containing 'copy' and '%TEMP%\staging_test'. Sysmon Event ID 11: Multiple FileCreate events in the staging directory. Security Event ID 4688 (if command-line auditing enabled) showing the copy commands.
- Test 2Stage Collected Output Using Append Redirect Operator
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Multiple Process Create events for cmd.exe with CommandLine containing '>>' and the staging file path in %TEMP%. Sysmon Event ID 11: FileCreate/FileModify events for collected_data.tmp. The file grows with each command execution.
- Test 3Stage Files with Hostname-Username Naming Convention
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for powershell.exe with CommandLine referencing %COMPUTERNAME%_%USERNAME%.txt. Sysmon Event ID 11: FileCreate event in %TEMP% with filename matching Hostname_Username.txt pattern. PowerShell ScriptBlock Log Event ID 4104 with full script content.
- Test 4Stage Data in Windows Registry (DarkWatchman Pattern)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for powershell.exe. Sysmon Event ID 13 (RegistryValueSet): Registry value CachedData set under HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Notepad with large Base64-encoded data. DeviceRegistryEvents: RegistryValueSet event visible in MDE.
References (13)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1074/001/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220629230035/https://www.prevailion.com/darkwatchman-new-fileless-techniques/
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-oopsie-oilrig-uses-threedollars-deliver-new-trojan/
- https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/threat-intelligence/2021/12/sidecopy-apt-connecting-lures-to-victims-payloads-to-infrastructure
- https://www.mandiant.com/resources/roadsweep-ransomware-zerocleare-wiper
- https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/suspected-apt-actors-leverage-bypass-techniques-pulse-secure-zero-day
- https://securelist.com/my-name-is-dtrack/93338/
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1074.001/T1074.001.md
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/tree/master/rules/windows/file/file_event
- https://www.secureworks.com/research/bronze-union
- https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0027/
- https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0053/
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/sysmon
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