Network Connection Initiated By Eqnedt32.EXE

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects network connections from the Equation Editor process “eqnedt32.exe”.

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: Network Connection Initiated By Eqnedt32.EXE
id: a66bc059-c370-472c-a0d7-f8fd1bf9d583
status: test
description: Detects network connections from the Equation Editor process "eqnedt32.exe".
references:
    - https://twitter.com/forensicitguy/status/1513538712986079238
    - https://forensicitguy.github.io/xloader-formbook-velvetsweatshop-spreadsheet/
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2019/07/18/a-new-equation-editor-exploit-goes-commercial-as-maldoc-attacks-using-it-spike/
author: Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-04-14
modified: 2024-05-31
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1203
logsource:
    category: network_connection
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\eqnedt32.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imNetworkSession
| where SrcProcessName endswith "\\eqnedt32.exe" or DstProcessName endswith "\\eqnedt32.exe"

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Unlikely

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Execution
• Technique: T1203 — T1203

References

• https://twitter.com/forensicitguy/status/1513538712986079238
• https://forensicitguy.github.io/xloader-formbook-velvetsweatshop-spreadsheet/
• https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2019/07/18/a-new-equation-editor-exploit-goes-commercial-as-maldoc-attacks-using-it-spike/
• SigmaHQ Rule