Detect Browser Session Hijacking in Sumo Logic CSE
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/
Sumo Detection Query
_sourceCategory=windows/sysmon ("EventCode=8" OR "EventCode=10" OR "EventCode=7")
| parse regex "<EventID>(?<EventCode>\d+)<\/EventID>"
| parse regex "TargetImage>(?<TargetImage>[^<]+)<" nodrop
| parse regex "SourceImage>(?<SourceImage>[^<]+)<" nodrop
| parse regex "ImageLoaded>(?<ImageLoaded>[^<]+)<" nodrop
| parse regex "GrantedAccess>(?<GrantedAccess>[^<]+)<" nodrop
| parse regex "User>(?<User>[^<]+)<" nodrop
| where (TargetImage matches "*\\chrome.exe"
OR TargetImage matches "*\\msedge.exe"
OR TargetImage matches "*\\firefox.exe"
OR TargetImage matches "*\\iexplore.exe"
OR TargetImage matches "*\\brave.exe"
OR TargetImage matches "*\\opera.exe"
OR TargetImage matches "*\\microsoftedge.exe")
OR (EventCode = "7" AND (ImageLoaded matches "*\\chrome.exe" OR ImageLoaded matches "*\\firefox.exe" OR ImageLoaded matches "*\\msedge.exe"))
| where NOT (SourceImage matches "*\\chrome.exe"
OR SourceImage matches "*\\msedge.exe"
OR SourceImage matches "*\\firefox.exe"
OR SourceImage matches "*\\MsMpEng.exe"
OR SourceImage matches "*\\WerFault.exe"
OR SourceImage matches "*\\csrss.exe"
OR SourceImage matches "*\\dwm.exe"
OR SourceImage matches "*\\taskmgr.exe")
| eval InjectionType = if(EventCode = "8", "CreateRemoteThread in browser",
if(EventCode = "10", "ProcessAccess to browser",
if(EventCode = "7", "Suspicious DLL load in browser", "Unknown")))
| eval IsHighRisk = if(EventCode = "8", "true",
if(EventCode = "10" AND GrantedAccess matches "0x1[Ff]*", "true", "false"))
| fields _messageTime, _sourceHost, User, EventCode, InjectionType, IsHighRisk, SourceImage, TargetImage, GrantedAccess, ImageLoaded
| sort by IsHighRisk desc, _messageTime descDetects browser session hijacking via Sysmon events in Sumo Logic. Parses XML Sysmon event data to identify CreateRemoteThread, ProcessAccess, and ImageLoad events targeting browser processes, with classification of injection type and risk level.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Antivirus or EDR solutions with behavior monitoring that access browser processes
- Browser-based screen sharing tools loading helper DLLs
- Legitimate software with browser integration such as LastPass or 1Password extensions
- Developer debugging sessions with process attachment
- Remote administration tools that leverage browser processes for UI interaction
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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