title: Executable used by PlugX in Uncommon Location
status: experimental
description: Detects the execution of an executable that is typically used by PlugX for DLL side loading started from an uncommon location
references:
    - 'http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2016/03/10/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-36/'
    - 'https://countuponsecurity.com/2017/06/07/threat-hunting-in-the-enterprise-with-appcompatprocessor/'
author: Florian Roth
date: 2017/06/12
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
detection:

    # CamMute
    selection_cammute:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\CamMute.exe'
    filter_cammute:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\Lenovo\Communication Utility\*'

    # Chrome Frame Helper
    selection_chrome_frame:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\chrome_frame_helper.exe'
    filter_chrome_frame:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\Google\Chrome\application\*'    

    # Microsoft Device Emulator
    selection_devemu:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\dvcemumanager.exe'
    filter_devemu:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\Microsoft Device Emulator\*'   

    # Windows Media Player Gadget
    selection_gadget:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\Gadget.exe'
    filter_gadget:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\Windows Media Player\*'

    # HTML Help Workshop
    selection_hcc:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\hcc.exe'
    filter_hcc:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\HTML Help Workshop\*'

    # Hotkey Command Module for Intel Graphics Contollers
    selection_hkcmd:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\hkcmd.exe'
    filter_hkcmd:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: 
            - '*\System32\*'
            - '*\SysNative\*'
            - '*\SysWowo64\*'

    # McAfee component
    selection_mc:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\Mc.exe'
    filter_mc:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: 
            - '*\Microsoft Visual Studio*'
            - '*\Microsoft SDK*'
            - '*\Windows Kit*'

    # MsMpEng - Microsoft Malware Protection Engine
    selection_msmpeng:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\MsMpEng.exe'
    filter_msmpeng:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: 
            - '*\Microsoft Security Client\*'
            - '*\Windows Defender\*'
            - '*\AntiMalware\*'

    # Microsoft Security Center
    selection_msseces:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\msseces.exe'
    filter_msseces:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\Microsoft Security Center\*'

    # Microsoft Office 2003 OInfo
    selection_oinfo:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\OInfoP11.exe'
    filter_oinfo:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\*'      

    # OLE View
    selection_oleview:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\OleView.exe'
    filter_oleview:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: 
            - '*\Microsoft Visual Studio*'
            - '*\Microsoft SDK*'
            - '*\Windows Kit*'   
            - '*\Windows Resource Kit\*'

    # RC
    selection_rc:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: '*\OleView.exe'
    filter_rc:
        EventID: 4688
        ProcessCommandLine: 
            - '*\Microsoft Visual Studio*'
            - '*\Microsoft SDK*'
            - '*\Windows Kit*'   
            - '*\Windows Resource Kit\*'
            - '*\Microsoft.NET\*'  

    condition: ( selection_cammute and not filter_cammute ) or  
                ( selection_chrome_frame and not filter_chrome_frame ) or
                ( selection_devemu and not filter_devemu ) or
                ( selection_gadget and not filter_gadget ) or 
                ( selection_hcc and not filter_hcc ) or 
                ( selection_hkcmd and not filter_hkcmd ) or 
                ( selection_mc and not filter_mc ) or
                ( selection_msmpeng and not filter_msmpeng ) or
                ( selection_msseces and not filter_msseces ) or
                ( selection_oinfo and not filter_oinfo ) or 
                ( selection_oleview and not filter_oleview ) or 
                ( selection_rc and not filter_rc ) 
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high