Detect Browser Session Hijacking in IBM QRadar
Adversaries may take advantage of security vulnerabilities and inherent functionality in browser software to change content, modify user behaviors, and intercept information as part of various browser session hijacking techniques. A specific example is when an adversary injects software into a browser process that allows them to inherit cookies, HTTP sessions, and SSL client certificates of a user, then uses the browser as a pivot into an authenticated intranet. Executing browser-based behaviors such as pivoting may require specific process permissions, such as SeDebugPrivilege and/or high-integrity/administrator rights. Another technique involves redirecting browser traffic through an adversary-controlled proxy injected into the browser process, allowing session impersonation without modifying user-visible traffic. Malware families such as TrickBot, Dridex, IcedID, QakBot, and Cobalt Strike implement browser pivoting and web inject techniques to steal banking credentials, session tokens, and SSL certificates.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Collection
- Technique
- T1185 Browser Session Hijacking
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1185/
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
DATEFORMAT(starttime, 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') AS EventTime,
sourceip AS SourceIP,
username AS User,
hostname AS Host,
QIDNAME(qid) AS EventName,
"SourceImage" AS InjectorProcess,
"TargetImage" AS TargetBrowser,
"GrantedAccess" AS AccessMask,
CATEGORYNAME(category) AS Category,
logsourcename(logsourceid) AS LogSource
FROM events
WHERE
LOGSOURCETYPENAME(devicetype) ILIKE '%sysmon%'
AND (
(qid IN (
SELECT qid FROM QIDMap WHERE qidname ILIKE '%CreateRemoteThread%'
OR qidname ILIKE '%ProcessAccess%'
OR qidname ILIKE '%ImageLoad%'
))
OR ("EventID" IN ('8', '10', '7'))
)
AND (
"TargetImage" ILIKE '%\\chrome.exe'
OR "TargetImage" ILIKE '%\\msedge.exe'
OR "TargetImage" ILIKE '%\\firefox.exe'
OR "TargetImage" ILIKE '%\\iexplore.exe'
OR "TargetImage" ILIKE '%\\brave.exe'
OR "TargetImage" ILIKE '%\\opera.exe'
OR "TargetImage" ILIKE '%\\microsoftedge.exe'
)
AND NOT (
"SourceImage" ILIKE '%\\chrome.exe'
OR "SourceImage" ILIKE '%\\msedge.exe'
OR "SourceImage" ILIKE '%\\firefox.exe'
OR "SourceImage" ILIKE '%\\MsMpEng.exe'
OR "SourceImage" ILIKE '%\\WerFault.exe'
OR "SourceImage" ILIKE '%\\csrss.exe'
OR "SourceImage" ILIKE '%\\dwm.exe'
OR "SourceImage" ILIKE '%\\taskmgr.exe'
)
AND starttime > NOW() - 1 DAYS
ORDER BY starttime DESC
LIMIT 500Detects browser session hijacking in QRadar by querying Sysmon events for CreateRemoteThread (Event 8), ProcessAccess (Event 10), and ImageLoad (Event 7) targeting browser processes from non-whitelisted sources. Correlates source and target process images to identify injection candidates.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Endpoint security agents (e.g., Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro) legitimately access browser processes
- Application performance monitoring tools that attach to browser processes
- Browser developer tools or remote debugging sessions
- Legitimate browser automation frameworks such as Selenium WebDriver
- IT management agents performing inventory or patch management tasks
Other platforms for T1185
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 1Browser Process Enumeration and Handle Open (ReadVM Access)
Expected signal: Sysmon EventCode=10 (ProcessAccess): SourceImage=powershell.exe, TargetImage=<browser>.exe, GrantedAccess=0x10 (PROCESS_VM_READ), CallTrace will show the kernel32.dll and ntdll.dll call stack. MDE DeviceEvents ActionType=OpenProcessApiCall with FileName=<browser>.exe, InitiatingProcessFileName=powershell.exe.
- Test 2Chrome Cookie Database Exfiltration via File Copy
Expected signal: Sysmon EventCode=11 (FileCreate): TargetFilename=%TEMP%\argus_test_cookies_*.db, Image=powershell.exe. Sysmon EventCode=1 (ProcessCreate): powershell.exe with command line referencing LOCALAPPDATA\Google\Chrome\User Data. MDE DeviceFileEvents with ActionType=FileCreated, FileName=argus_test_cookies_*.db, InitiatingProcessFileName=powershell.exe.
- Test 3Browser Proxy Configuration via Registry (Browser Pivot Simulation)
Expected signal: Sysmon EventCode=13 (RegistryValueSet): TargetObject=HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ProxyServer, Details=127.0.0.1:4444, Image=powershell.exe. Second EventCode=13 for ProxyEnable=1. MDE DeviceRegistryEvents with ActionType=RegistryValueSet, RegistryValueName=ProxyServer, RegistryValueData=127.0.0.1:4444.
- Test 4CreateRemoteThread Simulation into Browser Process (Benign Payload)
Expected signal: Sysmon EventCode=8 (CreateRemoteThread): SourceImage=powershell.exe, TargetImage=<browser>.exe, StartAddress=<kernel32!Sleep address>, StartModule=C:\Windows\System32\kernel32.dll, StartFunction=Sleep. MDE DeviceEvents ActionType=CreateRemoteThreadApiCall, FileName=<browser>.exe, InitiatingProcessFileName=powershell.exe. Security Event ID 4688 for the PowerShell process if command line auditing is enabled.
References (10)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1185/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-in-the-browser
- https://www.cobaltstrike.com/help-browser-pivoting
- https://web.archive.org/web/20210825130434/https://cobaltstrike.com/downloads/csmanual38.pdf
- https://www.icebrg.io/blog/malicious-chrome-extensions-enable-criminals-to-impact-over-half-a-million-users-and-global-businesses
- https://www.fidelissecurity.com/threatgeek/threat-intelligence/trickbot-we-missed-you-dyre/
- https://securityintelligence.com/trickbot-new-banking-trojan-delivers-credential-stealing-attacks/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/advanced-hunting-deviceevents-table
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/sysmon
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1185/T1185.md
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