Dllhost.EXE Initiated Network Connection To Non-Local IP Address

testmedium

log source: windows · network_connectionauthor bartblazedate 2020-07-13

description

What this is, in brief.

Detects Dllhost.EXE initiating a network connection to a non-local IP address. Aside from Microsoft own IP range that needs to be excluded. Network communication from Dllhost will depend entirely on the hosted DLL. An initial baseline is recommended before deployment.

rule source (YAML)

title: Dllhost.EXE Initiated Network Connection To Non-Local IP Address
id: cfed2f44-16df-4bf3-833a-79405198b277
status: test
description: |
    Detects Dllhost.EXE initiating a network connection to a non-local IP address.
    Aside from Microsoft own IP range that needs to be excluded. Network communication from Dllhost will depend entirely on the hosted DLL.
    An initial baseline is recommended before deployment.
references:
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/child-processes/
    - https://nasbench.medium.com/what-is-the-dllhost-exe-process-actually-running-ef9fe4c19c08
author: bartblaze
date: 2020-07-13
modified: 2024-07-16
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1559.001
    - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
    category: network_connection
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\dllhost.exe'
        Initiated: 'true'
    filter_main_local_ranges:
        DestinationIp|cidr:
            - '::1/128'  # IPv6 loopback
            - '10.0.0.0/8'
            - '127.0.0.0/8'
            - '172.16.0.0/12'
            - '192.168.0.0/16'
            - '169.254.0.0/16'
            - 'fc00::/7'  # IPv6 private addresses
            - 'fe80::/10'  # IPv6 link-local addresses
    filter_main_msrange:
        DestinationIp|cidr:
            - '20.184.0.0/13' # Microsoft Corporation
            - '20.192.0.0/10' # Microsoft Corporation
            - '23.72.0.0/13'  # Akamai International B.V.
            - '51.10.0.0/15'  # Microsoft Corporation
            - '51.103.0.0/16' # Microsoft Corporation
            - '51.104.0.0/15' # Microsoft Corporation
            - '52.224.0.0/11'  # Microsoft Corporation
            - '150.171.0.0/19'  # Microsoft Corporation
            - '204.79.197.0/24' # Microsoft Corporation'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Communication to other corporate systems that use IP addresses from public address spaces
level: medium

detects techniques (2)

ATT&CK techniques this enables or maps to.

references

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.