Detection rules › Splunk
Windows PowerShell Disable HTTP Logging
The following analytic detects the use of get-WebConfigurationProperty and Set-ItemProperty commands in PowerShell to disable HTTP logging on Windows systems. This detection leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging, specifically looking for script blocks that reference HTTP logging properties and attempt to set them to "false" or "dontLog". Disabling HTTP logging is significant as it can be used by adversaries to cover their tracks and delete logs, hindering forensic investigations. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to evade detection and persist in the environment undetected.
MITRE ATT&CK coverage
| Tactic | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Persistence | T1505.004 Server Software Component: IIS Components |
| Defense Evasion | T1562.002 Impair Defenses: Disable Windows Event Logging |
Event coverage
| Provider | Event ID | Title |
|---|---|---|
| PowerShell | 4104 | Creating Scriptblock text (MessageNumber of MessageTotal). |
Stages and Predicates
Stage 1: search
search EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText IN ("*Logfile.enabled*", "*httpLogging*") ScriptBlockText IN ("*Set-ItemProperty*", "*get-WebConfigurationProperty*") ScriptBlockText IN ("*dontLog*", "*false*")
Stage 2: fillnull
fillnull
Stage 3: stats
stats BY dest, signature, signature_id, user_id, vendor_product, EventID, Guid, Opcode, Name, Path, ProcessID, ScriptBlockId, ScriptBlockText
Stage 4: search
search
Stage 5: search
search
Stage 6: search
search `macro`
Indicators
Each row is a field, operator, and value that the rule matches. The corpus column counts how many other rules in the catalog look for the same combination: high numbers point to widely-used, community-vetted indicators. Blank or 1 shows that the indicator is specific to this rule.
| Field | Kind | Values |
|---|---|---|
EventCode | eq |
|
ScriptBlockText | in |
|
Neighbors
Broader alternatives (more inclusive than this rule)
These rules match a superset of what this rule catches. They cover the same events plus more. Use them if you want wider coverage and can absorb more false positives.
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- Potential PowerShell Obfuscation via Backtick-Escaped Variable Expansion (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Potential PowerShell Obfuscation via Character Array Reconstruction (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Potential PowerShell Obfuscation via Concatenated Dynamic Command Invocation (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Potential PowerShell Obfuscation via High Numeric Character Proportion (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Potential Dynamic IEX Reconstruction via Environment Variables (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Dynamic IEX Reconstruction via Method String Access (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- PowerShell Obfuscation via Negative Index String Reversal (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Potential PowerShell Obfuscation via Reverse Keywords (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Potential PowerShell Obfuscation via String Concatenation (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Potential PowerShell Obfuscation via String Reordering (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- Potential PowerShell Obfuscation via Special Character Overuse (drops 4 filters this rule applies)
- PowerShell 4104 Hunting (drops 3 filters this rule applies)