CMSTP Execution Process Creation

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects various indicators of Microsoft Connection Manager Profile Installer execution

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: CMSTP Execution Process Creation
id: 7d4cdc5a-0076-40ca-aac8-f7e714570e47
status: stable
description: Detects various indicators of Microsoft Connection Manager Profile Installer execution
references:
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20190720093911/http://www.endurant.io/cmstp/detecting-cmstp-enabled-code-execution-and-uac-bypass-with-sysmon/
author: Nik Seetharaman
date: 2018-07-16
modified: 2020-12-23
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.003
    - attack.g0069
    - car.2019-04-001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    # CMSTP Spawning Child Process
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\cmstp.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate CMSTP use (unlikely in modern enterprise environments)
level: high

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imProcessCreate
| where ParentProcessName endswith "\\cmstp.exe" or ActingProcessName endswith "\\cmstp.exe"

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Legitimate CMSTP use (unlikely in modern enterprise environments)

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Execution
• Technique: T1218.003 — T1218.003

References

• https://web.archive.org/web/20190720093911/http://www.endurant.io/cmstp/detecting-cmstp-enabled-code-execution-and-uac-bypass-with-sysmon/
• SigmaHQ Rule