Detect Remote Data Staging in IBM QRadar
Adversaries may stage data collected from multiple systems in a central location or directory on one system prior to Exfiltration. Data may be kept in separate files or combined into one file through techniques such as Archive Collected Data. Interactive command shells may be used, and common functionality within cmd and bash may be used to copy data into a staging location. By staging data on one system prior to Exfiltration, adversaries can minimize the number of connections made to their C2 server and better evade detection.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Collection
- Technique
- T1074 Data Staged
- Sub-technique
- T1074.002 Remote Data Staging
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1074/002/
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
DATEFORMAT(starttime, 'YYYY-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') AS event_time,
sourceip,
username,
"QIDNAME(qid)" AS event_name,
"CATEGORYNAME(category)" AS category,
LOGSOURCENAME(logsourceid) AS log_source,
"CommandLine",
"ParentImage",
"Image",
"TargetFilename",
CASE
WHEN LOWER("TargetFilename") MATCHES '.*\.(zip|rar|7z|tar\.gz|gz|bz2|cab|iso)$'
AND LOWER("TargetFilename") MATCHES '.*(\\temp\\|\\tmp\\|\\public\\|\\programdata\\|\\appdata\\local\\temp\\|\\users\\public\\|\\inetpub\\wwwroot\\).*'
THEN 'ArchiveInStagingDir'
WHEN LOWER("Image") MATCHES '.*(xcopy\.exe|robocopy\.exe)$'
AND "CommandLine" MATCHES '.*\\\\[a-zA-Z0-9].*'
THEN 'RemoteCopyToolToUNC'
WHEN LOWER("Image") MATCHES '.*(powershell\.exe|pwsh\.exe|cmd\.exe)$'
AND LOWER("CommandLine") MATCHES '.*(copy-item|move-item|xcopy|robocopy|copy |move ).*'
AND "CommandLine" MATCHES '.*\\\\[a-zA-Z0-9].*'
THEN 'PSCmdRemoteCopy'
ELSE 'OtherStagingIndicator'
END AS detection_type
FROM events
WHERE
LOGSOURCETYPEID IN (12) -- Sysmon
AND qid IN (
SELECT qid FROM qidmap WHERE qidname IN ('Process Create', 'File created')
)
AND (
(
LOWER("TargetFilename") MATCHES '.*\.(zip|rar|7z|tar|gz|bz2|cab|iso|lzh|arj)$'
AND LOWER("TargetFilename") MATCHES '.*(\\temp\\|\\tmp\\|\\public\\|\\programdata\\|\\appdata\\local\\temp\\|\\users\\public\\|\\inetpub\\|\\wwwroot\\).*'
)
OR (
LOWER("Image") MATCHES '.*(xcopy\.exe|robocopy\.exe)$'
AND "CommandLine" MATCHES '.*\\\\[a-zA-Z0-9].*'
)
OR (
LOWER("Image") MATCHES '.*(powershell\.exe|pwsh\.exe|cmd\.exe)$'
AND LOWER("CommandLine") MATCHES '.*(copy-item|move-item|xcopy|robocopy).*'
AND "CommandLine" MATCHES '.*\\\\[a-zA-Z0-9].*'
)
)
AND starttime > (NOW() - 86400000)
ORDER BY starttime DESC
LAST 24 HOURS AQL query for IBM QRadar detecting Remote Data Staging via Sysmon event correlation. Identifies archive file creation in staging directories, remote copy tool usage to UNC paths, and PowerShell/cmd remote copy operations. Classifies each event with a detection type label.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Automated nightly backup scripts using robocopy to replicate files to NAS devices or network shares as part of approved data protection policy
- Application installers that extract archives to %TEMP% or %ProgramData% as part of normal installation workflows
- Security scanning tools that create compressed snapshots of data in temp directories for hash verification purposes
Other platforms for T1074.002
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 Remote SMB Share via xcopy
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for xcopy.exe with CommandLine containing UNC path '\\127.0.0.1\StagingTest$'. Sysmon Event ID 11: File Create events on the destination share. Security Event ID 5140 (if share auditing enabled): Network share 'StagingTest$' accessed. Security Event ID 4688 (if command line auditing enabled): xcopy.exe process creation with full command line.
- Test 2Archive and Stage Collected Files in Public Directory
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for powershell.exe with CommandLine containing 'Compress-Archive' and 'C:\Users\Public'. Sysmon Event ID 11: File Create event for the .zip file in C:\Users\Public\staging_test\. PowerShell ScriptBlock Logging Event ID 4104: Records the Compress-Archive command.
- Test 3Stage Data in Web-Accessible Directory
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for powershell.exe with CommandLine containing 'Compress-Archive' and 'C:\inetpub\wwwroot'. Sysmon Event ID 11: File Create event for the .zip file in C:\inetpub\wwwroot\uploads\. PowerShell ScriptBlock Logging Event ID 4104 with full command.
- Test 4Remote Staging via PowerShell Copy-Item to UNC Path
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for powershell.exe with CommandLine containing 'Copy-Item' and '\\127.0.0.1\RemoteStage$'. Sysmon Event ID 11: File Create events on the destination share path. Sysmon Event ID 3: Network connection from powershell.exe to 127.0.0.1 on port 445 (SMB). Security Event ID 5140 (if share auditing enabled): Network share access event.
References (15)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1074/002/
- https://www.mandiant.com/sites/default/files/2021-09/mtrends-2020.pdf
- https://research.nccgroup.com/2021/01/12/abusing-cloud-services-to-fly-under-the-radar/
- https://www.pwc.co.uk/cyber-security/pdf/cloud-hopper-report-final-v4.pdf
- https://www.secureworks.com/research/bronze-union
- https://www.fireeye.com/content/dam/fireeye-www/summit/ciso-summit-2016/cs16-know-your-enemy-fin8.pdf
- https://www.fireeye.com/content/dam/fireeye-www/current-threats/pdfs/rpt-fin6.pdf
- https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/cicada-apt10-japan-espionage
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa21-200a
- https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jul/01/2002753896/-1/-1/1/CSA_GRU_GLOBAL_BRUTE_FORCE_CAMPAIGN_UOO158036-21.PDF
- https://www.welivesecurity.com/en/eset-research/moustachedbouncer-espionage-against-foreign-diplomats-in-belarus/
- https://securelist.com/toddycat-check-logs/110696/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/xcopy
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1074.002/T1074.002.md
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