Windows Process Execution Indicative of Maze Ransomware Word Droppers

title: Windows Process Execution Indicative of Maze Ransomware Word Droppers
id: 9d8fa44a-4520-432a-825e-e220e7eefa94
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process-creation patterns associated with Maze ransomware word-document droppers. It looks for a Word parent spawning a temporary executable, followed by execution of wmic used to delete Volume Shadow Copies. These actions matter because shadow copy deletion is a common step to hinder data recovery and facilitate impact. The detection relies on process creation telemetry including parent image paths, executable paths, and full command-line strings.
references:
  - https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/05/tactics-techniques-procedures-associated-with-maze-ransomware-incidents.html
  - https://app.any.run/tasks/51e7185c-52d7-4efb-ac0d-e86340053473/
  - https://app.any.run/tasks/65a79440-373a-4725-8d74-77db9f2abda4/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2020/Malware/Maze/proc_creation_win_malware_maze_ransomware.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2020-05-08
modified: 2023-02-13
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1204.002
  - attack.t1047
  - attack.impact
  - attack.t1490
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection1:
    ParentImage|endswith: \WINWORD.exe
    Image|endswith: .tmp
  selection2:
    Image|endswith: \wmic.exe
    ParentImage|contains: \Temp\
    CommandLine|endswith: shadowcopy delete
  selection3:
    CommandLine|endswith: shadowcopy delete
    CommandLine|contains: \..\..\system32
  condition: 1 of selection*
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: critical
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 29fd07fc-9cfd-4331-b7fd-cc18dfa21052
    type: derived