Windows: Renamed Visual Studio NodejsTools PressAnyKey.exe Execution

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218System Binary Proxy Execution
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies process executions where the original file name matches Microsoft.NodejsTools.PressAnyKey.exe but the running binary name indicates it has been renamed. Attackers can abuse renamed binaries as living-off-the-land style execution paths to blend in with legitimate developer tooling. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation fields for the image path and the OriginalFileName value reported by the file metadata.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Cabinet Extraction of Masqueraded vstm Archive via extrac32

Malicious DLL Execution via Wuauclt Update Handler (via process_creation)

Malicious aspnet_compiler.exe Injection Host Spawned by PowerShell via process_creation

Malicious regsvcs LOLBin Loading Ransomware DLL from UNC Path

Suspicious RegAsm or RegSvcs Spawned by Script Host (via process_creation)

Suspicious Extexport DLL Side-Loading Execution

Malicious ClickFix Execution Chain Spawning MSHTA via Pcalua on EtherRAT Infection

Suspicious TALONITE Certutil LOLBIN Decode and Download Abuse (via process_creation)

Suspicious Renamed git Binary gcmd.exe Execution (via process_creation)

Windows: Renamed Visual Studio NodejsTools PressAnyKey.exe Execution

Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

windows-renamed-visual-studio-nodejstools-pressanykey-exe-execution-65c3ca2c

title: "Windows: Renamed Visual Studio NodejsTools PressAnyKey.exe Execution"
id: 745982ec-2796-400d-af94-66f7580f9310
related:
  - id: a20391f8-76fb-437b-abc0-dba2df1952c6
    type: similar
  - id: 65c3ca2c-525f-4ced-968e-246a713d164f
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies process executions where the original file name matches Microsoft.NodejsTools.PressAnyKey.exe but the running binary name indicates it has been renamed. Attackers can abuse renamed binaries as living-off-the-land style execution paths to blend in with legitimate developer tooling. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation fields for the image path and the OriginalFileName value reported by the file metadata.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/mrd0x/status/1463526834918854661
  - https://gist.github.com/nasbench/a989ce64cefa8081bd50cf6ad8c491b5
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_renamed_pressanykey.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-04-11
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    OriginalFileName: Microsoft.NodejsTools.PressAnyKey.exe
  filter_main_legit_name:
    Image|endswith: \Microsoft.NodejsTools.PressAnyKey.exe
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL