Detect Replication Through Removable Media in IBM QRadar
Adversaries may move onto systems, possibly those on disconnected or air-gapped networks, by copying malware to removable media and taking advantage of Autorun features when the media is inserted into a system. This technique serves dual purposes: Initial Access (introducing malware into isolated or air-gapped environments) and Lateral Movement (propagating between networked systems via USB). Common implementations include creating autorun.inf files that auto-execute malware on media insertion, copying malicious executables to the drive root disguised as legitimate files, and creating LNK shortcut files that silently execute hidden payloads. Notable threat actors include Stuxnet (targeting air-gapped ICS/SCADA networks via CVE-2010-2568 LNK vulnerability), Flame (modular USB infection framework), Gamaredon Group (LNK files on all removable and network drives via UserAssist persistence), Mustang Panda and APT30 (customized PlugX USB variants), Raspberry Robin (worm spread via infected USB media), HIUPAN (periodic drive polling for propagation), and Aoqin Dragon (removable device dropper for breaching secure network environments).
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Lateral Movement Initial Access
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1091/
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
DATEFORMAT(devicetime, 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') AS event_time,
logsourceid,
LOGSOURCENAME(logsourceid) AS log_source,
sourceip,
username,
"filepath" AS target_path,
filename,
CASE
WHEN LOWER(filename) = 'autorun.inf' THEN 'AutorunInfCreated'
WHEN REGEXP(LOWER(filename), '\.(exe|dll|bat|cmd|vbs|js|lnk|hta|ps1|scr|pif|com)$')
AND REGEXP("filepath", '^[D-Zd-z]:\\\\[^\\\\]+$') THEN 'ExecutableAtDriveRoot'
WHEN REGEXP(LOWER(filename), '\.(exe|dll|bat|cmd|vbs|js|lnk|hta|ps1|scr|pif|com)$')
AND REGEXP("filepath", '^[D-Zd-z]:\\\\') THEN 'ExecutableOnRemovableMedia'
WHEN categoryname(category) = 'Process' AND REGEXP("filepath", '^[D-Zd-z]:\\\\') THEN 'ProcessFromRemovableMedia'
ELSE 'Unknown'
END AS signal,
CASE
WHEN LOWER(filename) = 'autorun.inf' THEN 90
WHEN categoryname(category) = 'Process' AND REGEXP("filepath", '^[D-Zd-z]:\\\\') THEN 88
WHEN REGEXP(LOWER(filename), '\.(exe|dll|bat|cmd|vbs|js|lnk|hta|ps1|scr|pif|com)$')
AND REGEXP("filepath", '^[D-Zd-z]:\\\\[^\\\\]+$') THEN 85
ELSE 65
END AS risk_score,
"process" AS initiating_process,
"commandlinearguments" AS command_line,
CATEGORYNAME(category) AS event_category,
magnitude
FROM events
WHERE
devicetime > NOW() - 86400000
AND LOGSOURCETYPEID(logsourceid) IN (12, 13, 14, 253)
AND (
(LOWER(filename) = 'autorun.inf' AND REGEXP("filepath", '^[D-Zd-z]:\\\\'))
OR (REGEXP(LOWER(filename), '\.(exe|dll|bat|cmd|vbs|js|lnk|hta|ps1|scr|pif|com)$')
AND REGEXP("filepath", '^[D-Zd-z]:\\\\') AND NOT REGEXP("filepath", '^\\\\\\\\'))
OR (CATEGORYNAME(category) IN ('Process') AND REGEXP("filepath", '^[D-Zd-z]:\\\\') AND NOT REGEXP("filepath", '^\\\\\\\\'))
)
AND NOT REGEXP("filepath", '^\\\\\\\\'))
ORDER BY risk_score DESC, devicetime DESC
LIMIT 500QRadar AQL query detecting removable media replication (T1091) via Sysmon and Windows Security events. Identifies autorun.inf creation, executables written to drive roots, suspicious files on non-system drives, and processes launched from removable media. Risk scores align with KQL/SPL baseline.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- IT provisioning tools that distribute software packages to USB drives for offline installation to air-gapped systems
- Endpoint backup solutions that write disk images or executable recovery tools to external storage devices
- Developers running portable development environments or Docker Desktop for Windows from external NVMe drives
Other platforms for T1091
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 5 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 autorun.inf on Non-System Drive
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 11 (File Create): TargetFilename=D:\autorun.inf, Image=cmd.exe. DeviceFileEvents in MDE: FileName=autorun.inf, FolderPath=D:\, ActionType=FileCreated, InitiatingProcessFileName=cmd.exe.
- Test 2Copy Executable to Removable Drive Root (PlugX/HIUPAN Pattern)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 11 (File Create): TargetFilename=D:\system_update.exe, Image=cmd.exe, MD5 matches cmd.exe hash. DeviceFileEvents in MDE: FileName=system_update.exe, FolderPath=D:\, ActionType=FileCreated, SHA256 matches cmd.exe.
- Test 3Create Malicious LNK Shortcut on Removable Drive (Gamaredon Technique)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 11 (File Create): TargetFilename=D:\Documents.lnk, Image=powershell.exe. DeviceFileEvents in MDE: FileName=Documents.lnk, FolderPath=D:\, ActionType=FileCreated, InitiatingProcessFileName=powershell.exe. WindowStyle=7 (minimized/hidden window) indicates deliberate concealment.
- Test 4Execute Process Directly from Removable Drive
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 (Process Create): Image=D:\usb_payload.exe, CommandLine=D:\usb_payload.exe /C whoami, ParentImage=cmd.exe. DeviceProcessEvents in MDE: FileName=usb_payload.exe, FolderPath=D:\, ProcessCommandLine contains 'whoami'. Preceded by Sysmon Event ID 11 for the file copy.
- Test 5Enumerate Removable Drives via WMI (USB Worm Reconnaissance)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 (Process Create): Image=powershell.exe, CommandLine contains 'Win32_LogicalDisk' and 'DriveType'. DeviceProcessEvents in MDE: FileName=powershell.exe, ProcessCommandLine contains WMI query. WMI Activity log (Microsoft-Windows-WMI-Activity/Operational Event ID 5857/5858) may record the Win32_LogicalDisk query.
References (10)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1091/
- https://securelist.com/the-flame-malware/73765/
- https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/shuckworm-usb-threat-ukraine
- https://www.threatexpert.com/report.aspx?md5=4c48f0dc5c55e26d5b68dfafe2e54b31
- https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/22/f/raspberry-robin-worming-its-way-through-networks.html
- https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/aoqin-dragon-newly-discovered-chinese-linked-apt-has-been-quietly-spying-on-organizations-for-10-years/
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1091/T1091.md
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/device-management/control-usb-devices-using-intune
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/advanced-hunting-devicefileevents-table
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4663
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for T1091 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.