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First Time Seen Remote Monitoring and Management Tool

Adversaries may install legitimate remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools or remote access software on compromised endpoints for command-and-control (C2), persistence, and execution of native commands. This rule detects when a process is started whose name or code signature (or whose parent's name or code signature) resembles commonly abused RMM/remote access tools, including first-time-seen child processes of such tools. New Terms type: host has not seen this process (or child-of-RMM pattern) before within the configured history window.

Rule type: new_terms
Rule indices:

  • logs-endpoint.events.process-*
  • endgame-*
  • winlogbeat-*
  • logs-windows.forwarded*
  • logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
  • logs-system.security*

Rule Severity: medium
Risk Score: 47
Runs every:
Searches indices from: now-9m
Maximum alerts per execution: 100
References:

Tags:

  • Domain: Endpoint
  • OS: Windows
  • Use Case: Threat Detection
  • Tactic: Command and Control
  • Resources: Investigation Guide
  • Data Source: Elastic Defend
  • Data Source: Elastic Endgame
  • Data Source: Windows Security Event Logs
  • Data Source: Sysmon

Version: 114
Rule authors:

  • Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

  • New terms window: The rule uses new_terms_fields: host.id with a 7-day history window. The first time a matching RMM/remote access process is seen on a host within that window will trigger the alert.
  • Velociraptor: If your organization deploys Velociraptor for DFIR or hunting, consider adding a rule exception by host group or excluding process.name: "Velociraptor.exe" where appropriate.
  • Elastic Defend: For best coverage ensure process events with process.code_signature and process.name are ingested from Windows endpoints (e.g. logs-endpoint.events.process-*).
  • Parent matching: The rule also matches when the started process's parent has an RMM/remote access name or code signer, so first-time child processes (e.g. scripts or binaries spawned by TeamViewer, ScreenConnect, AteraAgent, MeshAgent) are detected. Complement with DNS-based detection (e.g. Sigma rule for remote access software domains from non-browser processes) for full coverage.

Remote monitoring and management (RMM) and remote access software are commonly used by IT departments to provide support and manage endpoints. Attackers adopt the same tools to connect into interactive sessions, maintain access as a persistence mechanism, and drop malicious software.

This rule detects when an RMM or remote access process is seen on a host for the first time within the new_terms history window (see rule.new_terms), enabling analysts to investigate and enforce the correct usage of such tools.

  • Investigate the process execution chain (parent process tree) for unknown processes. Examine their executable files for prevalence, whether they are located in expected locations, and if they are signed with valid digital signatures.
  • Check if the execution of the RMM or remote access tool is approved by the organization's IT department.
  • Investigate other alerts associated with the user/host during the past 48 hours.
  • Contact the account owner and confirm whether they are aware of this activity.
    • If the tool is not approved for use in the organization, the employee could have been tricked into installing it and providing access to a malicious third party. Investigate whether this third party could be attempting to scam the end-user or gain access to the environment through social engineering.
  • Investigate any abnormal behavior by the subject process, such as network connections, registry or file modifications, and any spawned child processes.
  • If an authorized support person or administrator used the tool to conduct legitimate support or remote access, consider reinforcing that only tooling approved by the IT policy should be used. The analyst can dismiss the alert if no other suspicious behavior is observed involving the host or users.
  • Initiate the incident response process based on the outcome of the triage.
  • Isolate the involved host to prevent further post-compromise behavior.
  • Run a full scan using the antimalware tool in place. This scan can reveal additional artifacts left in the system, persistence mechanisms, and malware components.
  • Investigate credential exposure on systems compromised or used by the attacker to ensure all compromised accounts are identified. Reset passwords for these accounts and other potentially compromised credentials, such as email, business systems, and web services.
  • If an unauthorized third party did the access via social engineering, consider improvements to the security awareness program.
  • Enforce that only tooling approved by the IT policy should be used for remote access purposes and only by authorized staff.
  • Using the incident response data, update logging and audit policies to improve the mean time to detect (MTTD) and the mean time to respond (MTTR).
host.os.type: "windows" and

   event.category: "process" and event.type: "start" and

    (
        process.code_signature.subject_name : (
            "Action1 Corporation" or
            "AeroAdmin LLC" or
            "Ammyy LLC" or
            "Atera Networks Ltd" or
            "AWERAY PTE. LTD." or
            "BeamYourScreen GmbH" or
            "Bomgar Corporation" or
            "DUC FABULOUS CO.,LTD" or
            "DOMOTZ INC." or
            "DWSNET OÜ" or
            "FleetDeck Inc" or
            "GlavSoft LLC" or
            "GlavSoft LLC." or
            "Hefei Pingbo Network Technology Co. Ltd" or
            "IDrive, Inc." or
            "IMPERO SOLUTIONS LIMITED" or
            "Instant Housecall" or
            "ISL Online Ltd." or
            "LogMeIn, Inc." or
            "Monitoring Client" or
            "MMSOFT Design Ltd." or
            "Nanosystems S.r.l." or
            "NetSupport Ltd" or
            "NetSupport Ltd." or
            "NETSUPPORT LTD." or
            "NinjaRMM, LLC" or
            "Parallels International GmbH" or
            "philandro Software GmbH" or
            "Pro Softnet Corporation" or
            "RealVNC" or
            "RealVNC Limited" or
            "BreakingSecurity.net" or
            "Remote Utilities LLC" or
            "Rocket Software, Inc." or
            "SAFIB" or
            "Servably, Inc." or
            "ShowMyPC INC" or
            "Splashtop Inc." or
            "Superops Inc." or
            "TeamViewer" or
            "TeamViewer GmbH" or
            "TeamViewer Germany GmbH" or
            "Techinline Limited" or
            "uvnc bvba" or
            "Yakhnovets Denis Aleksandrovich IP" or
            "Zhou Huabing" or
            "ZOHO Corporation Private Limited" or
            "Connectwise, LLC" or
			"ScreenConnect Client"
        ) or

        process.name.caseless : (
            AA_v*.exe or
            "AeroAdmin.exe" or
            "AnyDesk.exe" or
            "apc_Admin.exe" or
            "apc_host.exe" or
            "AteraAgent.exe" or
            aweray_remote*.exe or
            "AweSun.exe" or
            "AgentMon.exe" or
            "B4-Service.exe" or
            "BASupSrvc.exe" or
            "bomgar-scc.exe" or
            "domotzagent.exe" or
            "domotz-windows-x64-10.exe" or
            "dwagsvc.exe" or
            "DWRCC.exe" or
            "ImperoClientSVC.exe" or
            "ImperoServerSVC.exe" or
            "ISLLight.exe" or
            "ISLLightClient.exe" or
            fleetdeck_commander*.exe or
            "getscreen.exe" or
            "g2aservice.exe" or
            "GoToAssistService.exe" or
            "gotohttp.exe" or
            "jumpcloud-agent.exe" or
            "level.exe" or
            "LvAgent.exe" or
            "LMIIgnition.exe" or
            "LogMeIn.exe" or
            "ManageEngine_Remote_Access_Plus.exe" or
            "MeshAgent.exe" or
            "Mikogo-Service.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgent.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgenPatcher.exe" or
            "ninjarmm-cli.exe" or
            "parsec.exe" or
            "PService.exe" or
            "quickassist.exe" or
            "r_server.exe" or
            "radmin.exe" or
            "radmin3.exe" or
            "RCClient.exe" or
            "RCService.exe" or
            "RemoteDesktopManager.exe" or
            "RemotePC.exe" or
            "RemotePCDesktop.exe" or
            "RemotePCService.exe" or
            "rfusclient.exe" or
            "ROMServer.exe" or
            "ROMViewer.exe" or
            "RPCSuite.exe" or
            "rserver3.exe" or
            "rustdesk.exe" or
            "rutserv.exe" or
            "rutview.exe" or
            "saazapsc.exe" or
            ScreenConnect*.exe or
            "session_win.exe" or
            "Remote Support.exe" or
            "smpcview.exe" or
            "spclink.exe" or
            "Splashtop-streamer.exe" or
            "Syncro.Overmind.Service.exe" or
            "SyncroLive.Agent.Runner.exe" or
            "SRService.exe" or
            "strwinclt.exe" or
            "Supremo.exe" or
            "SupremoService.exe" or
            "tacticalrmm.exe" or
            "tailscale.exe" or
            "tailscaled.exe" or
            "teamviewer.exe" or
            "ToDesk_Service.exe" or
            "twingate.exe" or
            "TiClientCore.exe" or
            "TSClient.exe" or
            "tvn.exe" or
            "tvnserver.exe" or
            "tvnviewer.exe" or
            UltraVNC*.exe or
            UltraViewer*.exe or
            "vncserver.exe" or
            "vncviewer.exe" or
            "winvnc.exe" or
            "winwvc.exe" or
            "Zaservice.exe" or
            "ZohoURS.exe" or
            "Velociraptor.exe" or
            "ToolsIQ.exe" or
            "CagService.exe" or
			"ScreenConnect.ClientService.exe" or
			"TiAgent.exe" or
			"GoToResolveProcessChecker.exe" or
			"GoToResolveUnattended.exe"
        ) or
        process.name : (
            AA_v*.exe or
            "AeroAdmin.exe" or
            "AnyDesk.exe" or
            "apc_Admin.exe" or
            "apc_host.exe" or
            "AteraAgent.exe" or
            aweray_remote*.exe or
            "AweSun.exe" or
            "AgentMon.exe" or
            "B4-Service.exe" or
            "BASupSrvc.exe" or
            "bomgar-scc.exe" or
            "CagService.exe" or
            "domotzagent.exe" or
            "domotz-windows-x64-10.exe" or
            "dwagsvc.exe" or
            "DWRCC.exe" or
            "ImperoClientSVC.exe" or
            "ImperoServerSVC.exe" or
            "ISLLight.exe" or
            "ISLLightClient.exe" or
            fleetdeck_commander*.exe or
            "getscreen.exe" or
            "g2aservice.exe" or
            "GoToAssistService.exe" or
            "gotohttp.exe" or
            "jumpcloud-agent.exe" or
            "level.exe" or
            "LvAgent.exe" or
            "LMIIgnition.exe" or
            "LogMeIn.exe" or
            "ManageEngine_Remote_Access_Plus.exe" or
            "MeshAgent.exe" or
            "meshagent.exe" or
            "Mikogo-Service.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgent.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgenPatcher.exe" or
            "ninjarmm-cli.exe" or
            "parsec.exe" or
            "PService.exe" or
            "quickassist.exe" or
            "r_server.exe" or
            "radmin.exe" or
            "radmin3.exe" or
            "RCClient.exe" or
            "RCService.exe" or
            "RemoteDesktopManager.exe" or
            "RemotePC.exe" or
            "RemotePCDesktop.exe" or
            "RemotePCService.exe" or
            "rfusclient.exe" or
            "ROMServer.exe" or
            "ROMViewer.exe" or
            "RPCSuite.exe" or
            "rserver3.exe" or
            "rustdesk.exe" or
            "rutserv.exe" or
            "rutview.exe" or
            "saazapsc.exe" or
            ScreenConnect*.exe or
            "session_win.exe" or
            "Remote Support.exe" or
            "smpcview.exe" or
            "spclink.exe" or
            "Splashtop-streamer.exe" or
            "Syncro.Overmind.Service.exe" or
            "SyncroLive.Agent.Runner.exe" or
            "SRService.exe" or
            "strwinclt.exe" or
            "Supremo.exe" or
            "SupremoService.exe" or
            "tacticalrmm.exe" or
            "tailscale.exe" or
            "tailscaled.exe" or
            "teamviewer.exe" or
            "TiClientCore.exe" or
            "ToDesk_Service.exe" or
            "twingate.exe" or
            "TSClient.exe" or
            "tvn.exe" or
            "tvnserver.exe" or
            "tvnviewer.exe" or
            UltraVNC*.exe or
            UltraViewer*.exe or
            "vncserver.exe" or
            "vncviewer.exe" or
            "winvnc.exe" or
            "winwvc.exe" or
            "Zaservice.exe" or
            "ZohoURS.exe" or
            "Velociraptor.exe" or
            "ToolsIQ.exe" or
			"ScreenConnect.ClientService.exe" or
			"TiAgent.exe" or
			"GoToResolveProcessChecker.exe" or
			"GoToResolveUnattended.exe"
        ) or
        process.parent.code_signature.subject_name : (
            "Action1 Corporation" or
            "AeroAdmin LLC" or
            "Ammyy LLC" or
            "Atera Networks Ltd" or
            "AWERAY PTE. LTD." or
            "BeamYourScreen GmbH" or
            "Bomgar Corporation" or
            "DUC FABULOUS CO.,LTD" or
            "DOMOTZ INC." or
            "DWSNET OÜ" or
            "FleetDeck Inc" or
            "GlavSoft LLC" or
            "GlavSoft LLC." or
            "Hefei Pingbo Network Technology Co. Ltd" or
            "IDrive, Inc." or
            "IMPERO SOLUTIONS LIMITED" or
            "Instant Housecall" or
            "ISL Online Ltd." or
            "LogMeIn, Inc." or
            "Monitoring Client" or
            "MMSOFT Design Ltd." or
            "Nanosystems S.r.l." or
            "NetSupport Ltd" or
            "NetSupport Ltd." or
            "NETSUPPORT LTD." or
            "NinjaRMM, LLC" or
            "Parallels International GmbH" or
            "philandro Software GmbH" or
            "Pro Softnet Corporation" or
            "RealVNC" or
            "RealVNC Limited" or
            "BreakingSecurity.net" or
            "Remote Utilities LLC" or
            "Rocket Software, Inc." or
            "SAFIB" or
            "Servably, Inc." or
            "ShowMyPC INC" or
            "Splashtop Inc." or
            "Superops Inc." or
            "TeamViewer" or
            "TeamViewer GmbH" or
            "TeamViewer Germany GmbH" or
            "Techinline Limited" or
            "uvnc bvba" or
            "Yakhnovets Denis Aleksandrovich IP" or
            "Zhou Huabing" or
            "ZOHO Corporation Private Limited" or
            "Connectwise, LLC" or
			"ScreenConnect Client"
        ) or
        process.parent.name: (
            AA_v*.exe or
            "AeroAdmin.exe" or
            "AnyDesk.exe" or
            "apc_Admin.exe" or
            "apc_host.exe" or
            "AteraAgent.exe" or
            aweray_remote*.exe or
            "AweSun.exe" or
            "AgentMon.exe" or
            "B4-Service.exe" or
            "BASupSrvc.exe" or
            "bomgar-scc.exe" or
            "domotzagent.exe" or
            "domotz-windows-x64-10.exe" or
            "dwagsvc.exe" or
            "DWRCC.exe" or
            "ImperoClientSVC.exe" or
            "ImperoServerSVC.exe" or
            "ISLLight.exe" or
            "ISLLightClient.exe" or
            fleetdeck_commander*.exe or
            "getscreen.exe" or
            "g2aservice.exe" or
            "GoToAssistService.exe" or
            "gotohttp.exe" or
            "jumpcloud-agent.exe" or
            "level.exe" or
            "LvAgent.exe" or
            "LMIIgnition.exe" or
            "LogMeIn.exe" or
            "ManageEngine_Remote_Access_Plus.exe" or
            "MeshAgent.exe" or
            "Mikogo-Service.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgent.exe" or
            "NinjaRMMAgenPatcher.exe" or
            "ninjarmm-cli.exe" or
            "parsec.exe" or
            "PService.exe" or
            "quickassist.exe" or
            "r_server.exe" or
            "radmin.exe" or
            "radmin3.exe" or
            "RCClient.exe" or
            "RCService.exe" or
            "RemoteDesktopManager.exe" or
            "RemotePC.exe" or
            "RemotePCDesktop.exe" or
            "RemotePCService.exe" or
            "rfusclient.exe" or
            "ROMServer.exe" or
            "ROMViewer.exe" or
            "RPCSuite.exe" or
            "rserver3.exe" or
            "rustdesk.exe" or
            "rutserv.exe" or
            "rutview.exe" or
            "saazapsc.exe" or
            ScreenConnect*.exe or
            "session_win.exe" or
            "Remote Support.exe" or
            "smpcview.exe" or
            "spclink.exe" or
            "Splashtop-streamer.exe" or
            "Syncro.Overmind.Service.exe" or
            "SyncroLive.Agent.Runner.exe" or
            "SRService.exe" or
            "strwinclt.exe" or
            "Supremo.exe" or
            "SupremoService.exe" or
            "tacticalrmm.exe" or
            "tailscale.exe" or
            "tailscaled.exe" or
            "teamviewer.exe" or
            "ToDesk_Service.exe" or
            "twingate.exe" or
            "TiClientCore.exe" or
            "TSClient.exe" or
            "tvn.exe" or
            "tvnserver.exe" or
            "tvnviewer.exe" or
            UltraVNC*.exe or
            UltraViewer*.exe or
            "vncserver.exe" or
            "vncviewer.exe" or
            "winvnc.exe" or
            "winwvc.exe" or
            "Zaservice.exe" or
            "ZohoURS.exe" or
            "Velociraptor.exe" or
            "ToolsIQ.exe" or
            "CagService.exe" or
			"TiAgent.exe" or
			"GoToResolveProcessChecker.exe" or
			"GoToResolveUnattended.exe"
        )
  ) and
  not (process.pe.original_file_name : ("G2M.exe" or "Updater.exe" or "powershell.exe") and process.code_signature.subject_name : "LogMeIn, Inc.")

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK