Remote Management and Monitoring tool - parsec.app - File Signature

Hunt Hypothesis

The detection identifies potential adversary use of the Parsec.app tool for remote management and monitoring, which could be leveraged for persistent access or command and control. SOC teams should proactively hunt for this behavior in Azure Sentinel to detect and mitigate potential compromise of endpoint systems.

KQL Query

let Time_start = now(-5d);
let Time_end = now();
//
DeviceFileCertificateInfo
| where Timestamp between (Time_start..Time_end)
| where Signer has 'Parsec Cloud'
| summarize FirstSeen=min(Timestamp), LastSeen=max(Timestamp), 
    Report=make_set(ReportId), Count=count() by DeviceId, DeviceName

Analytic Rule Definition

id: 8d1f5373-398c-49ed-b5c8-137d0fb7981d
name: Remote Management and Monitoring tool - parsec.app - File Signature
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:
  - DeviceFileCertificateInfo
tactics: CommandAndControl
relevantTechniques: T1219
query: |
  let Time_start = now(-5d);
  let Time_end = now();
  //
  DeviceFileCertificateInfo
  | where Timestamp between (Time_start..Time_end)
  | where Signer has 'Parsec Cloud'
  | summarize FirstSeen=min(Timestamp), LastSeen=max(Timestamp), 
      Report=make_set(ReportId), Count=count() by DeviceId, DeviceName

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_parsec.app_filesig.yaml)

False Positive Guidance

• Scenario: Scheduled System Maintenance via Parsec
  Description: An admin schedules a routine system maintenance task using Parsec to remotely reboot or update endpoints.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.parent_process.name == "Task Scheduler" or process.command_line contains "schtasks.exe"

• Scenario: Remote Desktop Session via Parsec
  Description: A legitimate IT admin uses Parsec to connect to a remote machine for troubleshooting or support.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.parent_process.name == "mstsc.exe" or process.command_line contains "mstsc"

• Scenario: File Integrity Monitoring Tool Using Parsec
  Description: A security tool like Tripwire or OSSEC uses Parsec to monitor file changes on remote endpoints.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.name == "tripwire" or process.name == "ossec" or process.name == "file_integrity_monitor"

• Scenario: Patch Management via Parsec
  Description: An admin uses Parsec to deploy patches or updates to multiple endpoints as part of a patch management process.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.command_line contains "wusa.exe" or "msiexec.exe" or process.parent_process.name == "Windows Update"

• Scenario: Remote Backup Job via Parsec
  Description: A backup job runs via Parsec to copy data from remote servers to a central backup server.
  Filter/Exclusion: process.command_line contains "robocopy.exe" or "xcopy.exe" or process.parent_process.name == "backup_service"