Remote Management and Monitoring tool - ChromeRDP - Network Connection

Hunt Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that an adversary is using ChromeRDP, a Remote Management and Monitoring tool, to establish a covert network connection for command and control or persistence. SOC teams should proactively hunt for this behavior in Azure Sentinel to identify potential compromise of endpoints through abused remote management tools.

KQL Query

let Time_start = now(-5d);
let Time_end = now();
//
DeviceNetworkEvents
| where Timestamp between (Time_start..Time_end)
| where RemoteUrl has 'remotedesktop-pa.googleapis.com'
    and InitiatingProcessVersionInfoCompanyName has 'Google'
    and InitiatingProcessVersionInfoProductName has 'Chrome Remote Desktop'
| summarize FirstSeen=min(Timestamp), LastSeen=max(Timestamp), 
    Report=make_set(ReportId), Count=count() by DeviceId, DeviceName,
    RemoteUrl 

Analytic Rule Definition

id: cb94b1ea-e427-4532-8abf-09d4288d94fb
name: Remote Management and Monitoring tool - ChromeRDP - Network Connection
description: |
    Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) programs are IT to manage remote endpoints. Attackers have begun to abuse these programs to persist or provide C2 channels.
    https://github.com/jischell-msft/RemoteManagementMonitoringTools
requiredDataConnectors:
- connectorId: MicrosoftThreatProtection
  dataTypes:
  - DeviceNetworkEvents
tactics: CommandAndControl
relevantTechniques: T1219
query: |
  let Time_start = now(-5d);
  let Time_end = now();
  //
  DeviceNetworkEvents
  | where Timestamp between (Time_start..Time_end)
  | where RemoteUrl has 'remotedesktop-pa.googleapis.com'
      and InitiatingProcessVersionInfoCompanyName has 'Google'
      and InitiatingProcessVersionInfoProductName has 'Chrome Remote Desktop'
  | summarize FirstSeen=min(Timestamp), LastSeen=max(Timestamp), 
      Report=make_set(ReportId), Count=count() by DeviceId, DeviceName,
      RemoteUrl 

Required Data Sources

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: CommandAndControl
• Technique: T1219 — T1219

References

• [Source Query](https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/main/Hunting Queries/Microsoft 365 Defender/RemoteManagementMonitoring/rmm_ChromeRDP_netconn.yaml)

False Positive Guidance

• Scenario: Scheduled System Maintenance via ChromeRDP
  Description: A system administrator schedules a maintenance task using ChromeRDP to remotely reboot or update a server.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.parent_process_name:"Task Scheduler" or process.command_line:"schtasks.exe"

• Scenario: Remote Desktop Session for IT Support
  Description: An IT support technician uses ChromeRDP to connect to a user’s machine to resolve a software issue.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.user:"IT Support User" or process.command_line:"mstsc.exe"

• Scenario: Automated Patch Deployment via ChromeRDP
  Description: A patch management tool uses ChromeRDP to push updates to multiple endpoints during off-peak hours.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.parent_process_name:"Patch Management Tool" or process.command_line:"chrome-rdp.exe"

• Scenario: Remote Monitoring Tool Configuration via ChromeRDP
  Description: An admin configures a remote monitoring tool (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios) using ChromeRDP to set up monitoring agents.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.parent_process_name:"SolarWinds" or process.command_line:"configure-monitoring.exe"

• Scenario: Backup Job Execution via ChromeRDP
  Description: A backup job is initiated remotely using ChromeRDP to transfer data from a remote server to a central backup system.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.parent_process_name:"Backup Exec" or process.command_line:"backup-job.exe"