Detect Automated Collection in Elastic Security
Once established within a system or network, an adversary may use automated techniques for collecting internal data. Methods for performing this technique could include use of a Command and Scripting Interpreter to search for and copy information fitting set criteria such as file type, location, or name at specific time intervals. In cloud-based environments, adversaries may also use cloud APIs, data pipelines, command line interfaces, or ETL services to automatically collect data. This functionality could also be built into remote access tools. This technique may incorporate use of other techniques such as File and Directory Discovery and Lateral Tool Transfer to identify and move files, as well as Cloud Service Dashboard and Cloud Storage Object Discovery to identify resources in cloud environments.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Collection
- Technique
- T1119 Automated Collection
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1119/
Elastic Detection Query
process where event.type == "start" and
(
// PowerShell recursive document search
(process.name in~ ("powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe") and
process.args : ("-Recurse", "Get-ChildItem", "GCI") and
process.command_line : ("*.doc*", "*.xls*", "*.pdf", "*.ppt*", "*.pst", "*.ost", "*.mdb", "*.accdb", "*.csv", "*.kdbx", "*.pfx", "*.pem", "*.p12", "*.key", "*.rtf", "*.txt"))
or
// CMD recursive file enumeration
(process.name == "cmd.exe" and
process.command_line : "*dir*" and process.command_line : "*/s*" and
process.command_line : ("*.doc*", "*.xls*", "*.pdf", "*.ppt*", "*.pst", "*.ost", "*.mdb", "*.csv", "*.kdbx"))
or
// forfiles automated processing
(process.command_line : "*forfiles*" and
process.command_line : ("*.doc*", "*.xls*", "*.pdf", "*.pst", "*.kdbx", "*.pfx", "*.pem"))
or
// Mass file copy tools
(process.name == "robocopy.exe" and process.command_line : ("*/s*", "*/e*", "*/MIR*", "*/mir*"))
or
(process.name == "xcopy.exe" and process.command_line : "*/s*")
or
// Archive tools with document targets
(process.name in~ ("rar.exe", "winrar.exe") and
process.command_line : ("* a *", "-a ", "/a ") and
process.command_line : ("*.doc*", "*.pdf", "*.pst", "*.kdbx", "*.pfx"))
or
(process.name == "7z.exe" and
process.command_line : ("* a *", "a ") and
process.command_line : ("*.doc*", "*.pdf", "*.pst", "*.kdbx", "*.pfx"))
or
// Python file traversal
(process.name in~ ("python.exe", "python3.exe") and
process.command_line : ("*os.walk*", "*glob.glob*", "*shutil.copy*", "*scandir*"))
or
// WScript/CScript with FSO methods
(process.name in~ ("wscript.exe", "cscript.exe") and
process.command_line : ("*GetFolder*", "*GetFile*", "*CopyFile*", "*MoveFile*", "*Files*"))
)Detects automated data collection activity (T1119) including recursive file enumeration via PowerShell/CMD, mass file copying via robocopy/xcopy, archiving of sensitive file types, and scripted traversal via Python or WScript/CScript using Elastic ECS process events.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Backup software agents (e.g., Veeam, Acronis, Windows Backup) that recursively copy or archive documents on a schedule
- IT asset management or DLP tools that use PowerShell Get-ChildItem with file extension filters during scheduled scans
- Software deployment tooling (e.g., SCCM, PDQ Deploy) that uses robocopy or xcopy with recursive flags for application staging
Other platforms for T1119
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 1PowerShell Recursive Document Collection to Staging Directory
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=powershell.exe, CommandLine containing 'Get-ChildItem', '-Recurse', '.docx', '.xlsx', '.pdf'. Sysmon Event ID 11: Multiple file creation events in %TEMP%\df00tech-stage for each copied file. PowerShell ScriptBlock Log Event ID 4104 with the full collection script. Security Event ID 4663 (if SACL auditing enabled) for each source document read.
- Test 2CMD Recursive File Enumeration with dir /s
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=cmd.exe, CommandLine containing 'dir /s /b' and '.docx', '.xlsx', '.pdf'. Sysmon Event ID 11: File creation event for %TEMP%\df00tech-filelist.txt. Security Event ID 4688 (if process creation auditing and command line logging are enabled) with full command line including extension targets.
- Test 3forfiles Automated Document Enumeration
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for the shell executing forfiles with CommandLine containing 'forfiles', '/S', and '.docx'. Child cmd.exe process creation events as forfiles spawns a cmd.exe instance per matching file. Sysmon Event ID 11: File creation for %TEMP%\df00tech-forfiles.txt. The child cmd.exe processes with 'echo @PATH' are also logged individually.
- Test 47-Zip Archive Collection — Document Staging Pre-Exfiltration
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=7z.exe, CommandLine containing 'a' (add to archive), target paths with '.docx', '.xlsx', '.pdf', '-r' (recursive), and '-p' (password). Sysmon Event ID 11: File creation event for %TEMP%\df00tech-archive.7z. Security Event ID 4663 (if auditing enabled) for each source document file opened by 7z.exe during archiving.
References (12)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1119/
- https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/unc3944-sms-phishing-sim-swapping-ransomware
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-t9000-advanced-modular-backdoor-uses-complex-anti-analysis-techniques/
- https://www.radware.com/security/ddos-threats-center/threat-advisories-and-attack-reports/micropsia-apt-malware/
- https://www.welivesecurity.com/2020/06/11/gamaredon-group-grows-its-game/
- https://dirkjanm.io/introducing-roadtools/
- https://github.com/dirkjanm/ROADtools
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1119/T1119.md
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/advanced-hunting-devicefileevents-table
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/forfiles
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/robocopy
- https://www.group-ib.com/resources/research/redcurl/
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