Uncommon NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API invocation with a PE header buffer

Cortex XDR Analytics Alert Reference by Alert name

Product
Cortex XDR
Last date published
2024-11-06
Category
Analytics Alert Reference
Order
Alert name

Synopsis

Activation Period

14 Days

Training Period

30 Days

Test Period

N/A (single event)

Deduplication Period

1 Day

Required Data

  • Requires:
    • XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH)

Detection Modules

Detector Tags

Injection Analytics

ATT&CK Tactic

ATT&CK Technique

Process Injection: Portable Executable Injection (T1055.002)

Severity

Low

Description

A process wrote a PE header to another process by calling the NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API function.

Attacker's Goals

Gain code execution on the host in the context of another process.

Investigative actions

  • Investigate the acting process for other malicious activities.
  • Check if the target process was injected and for anomalies in its behavior after this event.

Variations

Uncommon NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API invocation with a PE header buffer from an office process

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic

ATT&CK Technique

Process Injection: Portable Executable Injection (T1055.002)

Severity

High

Description

An office process wrote a PE header to another process by calling the NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API function.

Attacker's Goals

Gain code execution on the host in the context of another process.

Investigative actions

  • Investigate the acting process for other malicious activities.
  • Check if the target process was injected and for anomalies in its behavior after this event.


Uncommon NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API invocation with a PE header buffer from an injected thread

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic

ATT&CK Technique

Process Injection: Portable Executable Injection (T1055.002)

Severity

Medium

Description

An injected thread wrote a PE header to another process by calling the NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API function.

Attacker's Goals

Gain code execution on the host in the context of another process.

Investigative actions

  • Investigate the acting process for other malicious activities.
  • Check if the target process was injected and for anomalies in its behavior after this event.


Uncommon NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API invocation with a PE header buffer from a LOLBIN process

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic

ATT&CK Technique

Process Injection: Portable Executable Injection (T1055.002)

Severity

Medium

Description

A LOLBIN process wrote a PE header to another process by calling the NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API function.

Attacker's Goals

Gain code execution on the host in the context of another process.

Investigative actions

  • Investigate the acting process for other malicious activities.
  • Check if the target process was injected and for anomalies in its behavior after this event.


Uncommon NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API invocation with a PE header buffer from an unsigned process

Synopsis

ATT&CK Tactic

ATT&CK Technique

Process Injection: Portable Executable Injection (T1055.002)

Severity

Medium

Description

An unsigned process wrote a PE header to another process by calling the NtWriteVirtualMemoryRemote API function.

Attacker's Goals

Gain code execution on the host in the context of another process.

Investigative actions

  • Investigate the acting process for other malicious activities.
  • Check if the target process was injected and for anomalies in its behavior after this event.