Detect Modify Cloud Compute Infrastructure in Sumo Logic CSE
This detection identifies adversary attempts to modify cloud compute infrastructure components — including creating, deleting, or reverting virtual machines, snapshots, and compute configurations — to bypass access controls, evade detection, or erase forensic evidence. The KQL query monitors Azure Activity logs for anomalous compute operations such as snapshot creation from running instances, instance deletion outside approved maintenance windows, and configuration changes to security-relevant VM properties. The SPL query targets AWS CloudTrail events for equivalent actions across EC2, EBS, and related compute services. High-privilege cloud principals performing bulk or unusual compute operations are the primary focus, particularly when those operations originate from unfamiliar IP addresses or occur outside normal change windows.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Defense Evasion
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/
Sumo Detection Query
_sourceCategory=*azure*activitylog* OR _sourceCategory=*aws*cloudtrail*
| json auto
| where matches(operationName, "(?i)(snapshot|virtualMachine|instance|compute|create|delete|modify)")
| eval RiskLevel = if(matches(operationName, "(?i)(delete|destroy|terminate)"), "High",
if(matches(operationName, "(?i)(snapshot|create)"), "Medium", "Low"))
| where RiskLevel in ("High","Medium")
| eval AlertType = if(matches(operationName, "(?i)delete"), "Cloud Resource Deletion",
if(matches(operationName, "(?i)snapshot"), "Snapshot Operation",
if(matches(operationName, "(?i)create"), "Resource Creation", "Cloud Modification")))
| where caller != "azure-backup" and !matches(caller, "(?i)automation")
| stats count AS OpCount, values(operationName) AS Operations, values(RiskLevel) AS RiskLevels by _sourceHost, caller, resourceGroup
| sort by OpCount descSumo Logic detection for Modify Cloud Compute Infrastructure. Monitors Azure Activity logs for anomalous compute infrastructure modifications by a single principal. Scores operations by risk (DELETE/CAPTURE/GENERALIZE=3pts, EXTENSION_CHANGE=2pts, CREATE/MODIFY=1
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Cloud administrators creating authorized snapshots for backup or migration
- Automated disaster recovery systems creating scheduled cloud snapshots
- DevOps pipelines creating and deleting compute instances as part of CI/CD
- Authorized cloud infrastructure migrations between regions or accounts
Other platforms for T1578
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 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 1AWS - Create and Share EC2 Snapshot Cross-Account
Expected signal: AWS CloudTrail events: CreateSnapshot (ec2.amazonaws.com), ModifySnapshotAttribute with createVolumePermission add — both visible in CloudTrail within 5-15 minutes
- Test 2Azure - Create VM Snapshot and Capture VM Image
Expected signal: AzureActivity log entries: Microsoft.Compute/snapshots/write (Succeeded), Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/capture/action (Started/Succeeded) — visible in Azure Monitor within 2-5 minutes
- Test 3AWS - Terminate Running EC2 Instance (Evidence Destruction)
Expected signal: AWS CloudTrail events: RunInstances (ec2.amazonaws.com) followed by TerminateInstances — both visible within 5-15 minutes. Instance state change to 'shutting-down' then 'terminated' visible in EC2 describe-instances.
References (9)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/
- https://www.mandiant.com/resources/reports/m-trends-2020
- https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/monitor-with-cloudtrail.html
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/essentials/activity-log
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/001/
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/002/
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/003/
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/004/
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/005/
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