Instead of running several queries separately, you can also use a comprehensive query that checks for multiple signs of ransomware activity to identify affected devices. The following consolidated que
// Find attempts to stop processes using taskkill.exe
let taskKill = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where FileName =~ "taskkill.exe"
| summarize taskKillCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), TaskKillList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 2m)
| where taskKillCount > 10;
// Find attempts to stop processes using net stop
let netStop = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where FileName =~ "net.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has "stop"
| summarize netStopCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), NetStopList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 2m)
| where netStopCount > 10;
// Look for cipher.exe deleting data from multiple drives
let cipher = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where FileName =~ "cipher.exe"
// cipher.exe /w flag used for deleting data
| where ProcessCommandLine has "/w"
| summarize CipherCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine),
CipherList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 1m)
// cipher.exe accessing multiple drives in a short timeframe
| where CipherCount > 1;
// Look for use of wevtutil to clear multiple logs
let wevtutilClear = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where ProcessCommandLine has "WEVTUTIL" and ProcessCommandLine has "CL"
| summarize LogClearCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), ClearedLogList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 5m)
| where LogClearCount > 10;
// Look for sc.exe disabling services
let scDisable = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where ProcessCommandLine has "sc" and ProcessCommandLine has "config" and ProcessCommandLine has "disabled"
| summarize ScDisableCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), ScDisableList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 5m)
| where ScDisableCount > 10;
// Main query for counting and aggregating evidence
DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where FileName =~ "vssadmin.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has_any("list shadows", "delete shadows")
or FileName =~ "fsutil.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has "usn" and ProcessCommandLine has "deletejournal"
or ProcessCommandLine has("bcdedit") and ProcessCommandLine has_any("recoveryenabled no", "bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures")
or ProcessCommandLine has "wbadmin" and ProcessCommandLine has "delete" and ProcessCommandLine has_any("backup", "catalog", "systemstatebackup")
or (ProcessCommandLine has "wevtutil" and ProcessCommandLine has "cl")
or (ProcessCommandLine has "wmic" and ProcessCommandLine has "shadowcopy delete")
or (ProcessCommandLine has "sc" and ProcessCommandLine has "config" and ProcessCommandLine has "disabled")
| extend Bcdedit = iff(ProcessCommandLine has "bcdedit" and ProcessCommandLine has_any("recoveryenabled no", "bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures"), 1, 0)
| extend ShadowCopyDelete = iff (ProcessCommandLine has "shadowcopy delete", 1, 0)
| extend VssAdminShadows = iff(ProcessCommandLine has "vssadmin" and ProcessCommandLine has_any("list shadows", "delete shadows"), 1, 0)
| extend Wbadmin = iff(ProcessCommandLine has "wbadmin" and ProcessCommandLine has "delete" and ProcessCommandLine has_any("backup", "catalog", "systemstatebackup"), 1,0)
| extend Fsutil = iff(ProcessCommandLine has "fsutil" and ProcessCommandLine has "usn" and ProcessCommandLine has "deletejournal", 1, 0)
| summarize FirstActivity = min(Timestamp), ReportId = any(ReportId), Commands = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, Fsutil, Wbadmin, ShadowCopyDelete, Bcdedit, VssAdminShadows, bin(Timestamp, 6h)
// Joining extra evidence
| join kind=leftouter (wevtutilClear) on $left.DeviceId == $right.DeviceId
| join kind=leftouter (cipher) on $left.DeviceId == $right.DeviceId
| join kind=leftouter (netStop) on $left.DeviceId == $right.DeviceId
| join kind=leftouter (taskKill) on $left.DeviceId == $right.DeviceId
| join kind=leftouter (scDisable) on $left.DeviceId == $right.DeviceId
| extend WevtutilUse = iff(LogClearCount > 10, 1, 0)
| extend CipherUse = iff(CipherCount > 1, 1, 0)
| extend NetStopUse = iff(netStopCount > 10, 1, 0)
| extend TaskkillUse = iff(taskKillCount > 10, 1, 0)
| extend ScDisableUse = iff(ScDisableCount > 10, 1, 0)
// Adding up all evidence
| mv-expand CommandList = NetStopList, TaskKillList, ClearedLogList, CipherList, Commands, ScDisableList
// Format results
| summarize BcdEdit = iff(make_set(Bcdedit) contains "1" , 1, 0), NetStop10PlusCommands = iff(make_set(NetStopUse) contains "1", 1, 0), Wevtutil10PlusLogsCleared = iff(make_set(WevtutilUse) contains "1", 1, 0),
CipherMultipleDrives = iff(make_set(CipherUse) contains "1", 1, 0), Fsutil = iff(make_set(Fsutil) contains "1", 1, 0), ShadowCopyDelete = iff(make_set(ShadowCopyDelete) contains "1", 1, 0),
Wbadmin = iff(make_set(Wbadmin) contains "1", 1, 0), TaskKill10PlusCommand = iff(make_set(TaskkillUse) contains "1", 1, 0), VssAdminShadow = iff(make_set(VssAdminShadows) contains "1", 1, 0),
ScDisable = iff(make_set(ScDisableUse) contains "1", 1, 0), TotalEvidenceCount = dcount(CommandList), EvidenceList = make_set(Commands), StartofBehavior = min(FirstActivity) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 1d)
| extend UniqueEvidenceCount = BcdEdit + NetStop10PlusCommands + Wevtutil10PlusLogsCleared + CipherMultipleDrives + Wbadmin + Fsutil + TaskKill10PlusCommand + VssAdminShadow + ScDisable + ShadowCopyDelete
| where UniqueEvidenceCount > 2
id: 3b0a6901-6149-4856-bc6e-149ca654bc8c
name: Check for multiple signs of ransomware activity
description: |
Instead of running several queries separately, you can also use a comprehensive query that checks for multiple signs of ransomware activity to identify affected devices. The following consolidated query:
Looks for both relatively concrete and subtle signs of ransomware activity
Weighs the presence of these signs
Identifies devices with a higher chance of being targets of ransomware
When run, this consolidated query returns a list of devices that have exhibited multiple signs of attack. The count of each type of ransomware activity is also shown.
requiredDataConnectors:
- connectorId: MicrosoftThreatProtection
dataTypes:
- DeviceProcessEvents
tactics:
- Ransomware
query: |
// Find attempts to stop processes using taskkill.exe
let taskKill = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where FileName =~ "taskkill.exe"
| summarize taskKillCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), TaskKillList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 2m)
| where taskKillCount > 10;
// Find attempts to stop processes using net stop
let netStop = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where FileName =~ "net.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has "stop"
| summarize netStopCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), NetStopList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 2m)
| where netStopCount > 10;
// Look for cipher.exe deleting data from multiple drives
let cipher = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where FileName =~ "cipher.exe"
// cipher.exe /w flag used for deleting data
| where ProcessCommandLine has "/w"
| summarize CipherCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine),
CipherList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 1m)
// cipher.exe accessing multiple drives in a short timeframe
| where CipherCount > 1;
// Look for use of wevtutil to clear multiple logs
let wevtutilClear = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where ProcessCommandLine has "WEVTUTIL" and ProcessCommandLine has "CL"
| summarize LogClearCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), ClearedLogList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 5m)
| where LogClearCount > 10;
// Look for sc.exe disabling services
let scDisable = DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where ProcessCommandLine has "sc" and ProcessCommandLine has "config" and ProcessCommandLine has "disabled"
| summarize ScDisableCount = dcount(ProcessCommandLine), ScDisableList = make_set(ProcessCommandLine) by DeviceId, bin(Timestamp, 5m)
| where ScDisableCount > 10;
// Main query for counting and aggregating evidence
DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(1d)
| where FileName =~ "vssadmin.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has_any("list shadows", "delete shadows")
or FileName =~ "fsutil.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has "usn" and ProcessCommandLine has | Sentinel Table | Notes |
|---|---|
DeviceProcessEvents | Ensure this data connector is enabled |