Install this skill
npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-SkillsFramework mappings
MITRE ATT&CK
T1046 on the official MITRE ATT&CK siteT1057 on the official MITRE ATT&CK siteT1082 on the official MITRE ATT&CK siteT1083 on the official MITRE ATT&CK siteT1566 on the official MITRE ATT&CK siteT1566.001 on the official MITRE ATT&CK siteT1566.002 on the official MITRE ATT&CK siteT1566.003 on the official MITRE ATT&CK site
NIST CSF 2.0
MITRE D3FEND
Application Protocol Command Analysis on the official MITRE D3FEND siteContent Format Conversion on the official MITRE D3FEND siteFile Metadata Consistency Validation on the official MITRE D3FEND siteIdentifier Analysis on the official MITRE D3FEND siteMessage Analysis on the official MITRE D3FEND site
When to Use
- When proactively hunting for indicators of hunting for spearphishing indicators in the environment
- After threat intelligence indicates active campaigns using these techniques
- During incident response to scope compromise related to these techniques
- When EDR or SIEM alerts trigger on related indicators
- During periodic security assessments and purple team exercises
Prerequisites
- EDR platform with process and network telemetry (CrowdStrike, MDE, SentinelOne)
- SIEM with relevant log data ingested (Splunk, Elastic, Sentinel)
- Sysmon deployed with comprehensive configuration
- Windows Security Event Log forwarding enabled
- Threat intelligence feeds for IOC correlation
Workflow
- Formulate Hypothesis: Define a testable hypothesis based on threat intelligence or ATT&CK gap analysis.
- Identify Data Sources: Determine which logs and telemetry are needed to validate or refute the hypothesis.
- Execute Queries: Run detection queries against SIEM and EDR platforms to collect relevant events.
- Analyze Results: Examine query results for anomalies, correlating across multiple data sources.
- Validate Findings: Distinguish true positives from false positives through contextual analysis.
- Correlate Activity: Link findings to broader attack chains and threat actor TTPs.
- Document and Report: Record findings, update detection rules, and recommend response actions.
Key Concepts
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| T1566.001 | Spearphishing Attachment |
| T1566.002 | Spearphishing Link |
| T1566.003 | Spearphishing via Service |
Tools & Systems
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CrowdStrike Falcon | EDR telemetry and threat detection |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Advanced hunting with KQL |
| Splunk Enterprise | SIEM log analysis with SPL queries |
| Elastic Security | Detection rules and investigation timeline |
| Sysmon | Detailed Windows event monitoring |
| Velociraptor | Endpoint artifact collection and hunting |
| Sigma Rules | Cross-platform detection rule format |
Common Scenarios
- Scenario 1: Macro-enabled Excel executing PowerShell downloader
- Scenario 2: HTML smuggling delivering ISO with LNK payload
- Scenario 3: Credential harvesting link as SharePoint notification
- Scenario 4: QR code phishing in PDF attachment
Output Format
Hunt ID: TH-HUNTIN-[DATE]-[SEQ]
Technique: T1566.001
Host: [Hostname]
User: [Account context]
Evidence: [Log entries, process trees, network data]
Risk Level: [Critical/High/Medium/Low]
Confidence: [High/Medium/Low]
Recommended Action: [Containment, investigation, monitoring]Source materials
References and resources
Everything below is rendered for inspection. Script files are read-only and never run.
References 3
api-reference.md1.8 KB
API Reference: Hunting for Spearphishing Indicators
Email Header Analysis
import email
from email import policy
msg = email.message_from_file(open("suspect.eml"), policy=policy.default)
print(msg["From"], msg["Return-Path"], msg["Received"])
print(msg["Authentication-Results"]) # SPF/DKIM/DMARCSuspicious Attachment Types
| Extension | Risk | Technique |
|---|---|---|
.exe, .scr, .dll |
CRITICAL | T1566.001 |
.xlsm, .docm |
HIGH | T1566.001 (macros) |
.iso, .img, .lnk |
HIGH | T1566.001 (MOTW bypass) |
.html, .htm |
HIGH | HTML Smuggling |
.zip, .rar |
MEDIUM | Archive with payload |
Splunk SPL - Phishing Detection
index=email sourcetype=exchange
| where match(attachment_name, "(?i)\.(exe|scr|iso|lnk|docm|xlsm|hta)$")
| stats count by sender, recipient, attachment_name, subject
| where count > 3KQL - Microsoft Defender for Office 365
EmailAttachmentInfo
| where FileType in ("exe", "scr", "iso", "lnk", "docm", "xlsm")
| join kind=inner EmailEvents on NetworkMessageId
| project Timestamp, SenderFromAddress, RecipientEmailAddress, Subject, FileNamePhishing URL Patterns
patterns = [
r"https?://bit\.ly/", # URL shorteners
r"https?://\d+\.\d+\.\d+\.\d+", # IP-based URLs
r"https?://[^/]*login[^/]*\.", # Credential harvesting
r"https?://[^/]*\.(top|xyz)/", # Suspicious TLDs
]SPF/DKIM/DMARC Validation
import spf
result, _, _ = spf.check2(ip="1.2.3.4", sender="user@example.com", helo="mail.example.com")
# result: 'pass', 'fail', 'softfail', 'neutral', 'none'References
- MITRE T1566: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/
- pyspf: https://pypi.org/project/pyspf/
- python email: https://docs.python.org/3/library/email.html
standards.md1.6 KB
Standards and References - Hunting For Spearphishing Indicators
MITRE ATT&CK Mappings
| Technique | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| T1566.001 | Spearphishing Attachment | See attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001 |
| T1566.002 | Spearphishing Link | See attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/002 |
| T1566.003 | Spearphishing via Service | See attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/003 |
Detection Data Sources
| Source | Event ID | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sysmon | 1 | Process creation with command line |
| Sysmon | 3 | Network connection initiated |
| Sysmon | 7 | Image loaded (DLL) |
| Sysmon | 10 | Process access (LSASS) |
| Sysmon | 11 | File creation |
| Sysmon | 12/13 | Registry create/set |
| Sysmon | 22 | DNS query |
| Sysmon | 25 | Process tampering |
| Windows Security | 4624 | Successful logon |
| Windows Security | 4625 | Failed logon |
| Windows Security | 4648 | Explicit credential logon |
| Windows Security | 4672 | Special privileges assigned |
| Windows Security | 4688 | Process creation |
| Windows Security | 4697 | Service installed |
| Windows Security | 4698 | Scheduled task created |
| Windows Security | 4769 | Kerberos TGS requested |
| Windows Security | 5140 | Network share accessed |
References
- MITRE ATT&CK Framework: https://attack.mitre.org/
- Sigma Detection Rules: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma
- LOLBAS Project: https://lolbas-project.github.io/
- Atomic Red Team Tests: https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team
- Red Canary Threat Detection Report
- SANS Threat Hunting Summit Resources
workflows.md3.0 KB
Detailed Hunting Workflow - Hunting For Spearphishing Indicators
Phase 1: Data Collection and Querying
Splunk SPL Query
index=sysmon EventCode=1
| where match(ParentImage, "(?i)(winword|excel|powerpnt|outlook)\.exe$")
| where match(Image, "(?i)(cmd|powershell|wscript|cscript|mshta|certutil)\.exe$")
| table _time Computer User ParentImage Image CommandLineKQL Query (Microsoft Defender for Endpoint)
DeviceProcessEvents
| where InitiatingProcessFileName in~ ("winword.exe","excel.exe","powerpnt.exe","outlook.exe")
| where FileName in~ ("cmd.exe","powershell.exe","wscript.exe","mshta.exe")
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, AccountName, InitiatingProcessFileName, FileName, ProcessCommandLinePhase 2: Baseline and Anomaly Detection
Step 2.1 - Establish Normal Behavior Baseline
- Collect 30 days of historical data for the targeted technique
- Document expected patterns, frequencies, and legitimate use cases
- Identify known false positive sources and document exceptions
- Build statistical baseline (mean, standard deviation) for key metrics
Step 2.2 - Identify Anomalies
- Compare current activity against the 30-day baseline
- Flag events exceeding 3 standard deviations from normal
- Prioritize anomalies by risk score and potential business impact
- Cross-reference with threat intelligence for known IOCs
Phase 3: Investigation and Correlation
Step 3.1 - Deep Dive Analysis
- For each anomaly, collect full process tree context
- Correlate with network activity, file operations, and authentication events
- Check binary signatures, file hashes, and certificate validity
- Review user account context and access patterns
Step 3.2 - Attack Chain Reconstruction
- Map findings to MITRE ATT&CK kill chain stages
- Identify initial access vector if applicable
- Trace lateral movement and privilege escalation paths
- Determine data access and potential exfiltration
Phase 4: Validation and Response
Step 4.1 - True/False Positive Determination
- Verify findings with system owners and IT operations
- Check change management records for authorized activities
- Validate user context (authorized actions vs. compromised account)
- Document determination rationale for each finding
Step 4.2 - Response Actions
- For confirmed threats: initiate incident response procedures
- For detection gaps: create or update detection rules
- For false positives: tune existing rules and update exclusions
- Update threat hunting playbook with lessons learned
Phase 5: Documentation and Reporting
Step 5.1 - Hunt Report
- Summarize hypothesis, methodology, and findings
- Include all queries executed and their results
- Document IOCs discovered and detection rules created
- Provide recommendations for security improvements
Step 5.2 - Knowledge Base Update
- Add findings to threat intelligence platform
- Update MITRE ATT&CK coverage heatmap
- Share detection rules via Sigma format
- Schedule follow-up hunts for related techniques
Scripts 2
agent.py6.7 KB
Display-only source. This catalog never executes bundled scripts.
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Agent for hunting spearphishing indicators across email and endpoint logs."""
import json
import argparse
import re
from datetime import datetime
SUSPICIOUS_EXTENSIONS = [
".exe", ".scr", ".bat", ".cmd", ".ps1", ".vbs", ".js", ".hta",
".iso", ".img", ".lnk", ".dll", ".msi", ".wsf",
]
MACRO_EXTENSIONS = [".xlsm", ".docm", ".pptm", ".xlsb"]
PHISHING_URL_PATTERNS = [
r"https?://bit\.ly/", r"https?://tinyurl\.com/",
r"https?://[^/]*login[^/]*\.", r"https?://[^/]*signin[^/]*\.",
r"https?://[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}",
r"https?://[^/]*\.top/", r"https?://[^/]*\.xyz/",
]
URGENCY_KEYWORDS = [
"urgent", "immediate action", "account suspended", "verify your",
"password expired", "click here immediately", "security alert",
"unauthorized access", "confirm your identity",
]
def load_email_logs(log_path):
"""Load email logs from JSON lines file."""
entries = []
with open(log_path) as f:
for line in f:
try:
entries.append(json.loads(line))
except json.JSONDecodeError:
continue
return entries
def check_attachment_risk(filename):
"""Assess risk of email attachment by extension."""
lower = filename.lower()
if any(lower.endswith(ext) for ext in SUSPICIOUS_EXTENSIONS):
return "CRITICAL"
if any(lower.endswith(ext) for ext in MACRO_EXTENSIONS):
return "HIGH"
if lower.endswith(".html") or lower.endswith(".htm"):
return "HIGH"
if lower.endswith(".zip") or lower.endswith(".rar") or lower.endswith(".7z"):
return "MEDIUM"
return "LOW"
def detect_suspicious_attachments(emails):
"""Find emails with dangerous attachment types."""
findings = []
for email in emails:
attachments = email.get("attachments", [])
for att in attachments:
name = att if isinstance(att, str) else att.get("filename", "")
risk = check_attachment_risk(name)
if risk in ("CRITICAL", "HIGH"):
findings.append({
"subject": email.get("subject", ""),
"sender": email.get("from", email.get("sender", "")),
"recipient": email.get("to", email.get("recipient", "")),
"timestamp": email.get("timestamp", email.get("date", "")),
"attachment": name,
"risk": risk,
"category": "suspicious_attachment",
})
return findings
def detect_phishing_urls(emails):
"""Detect phishing URLs in email body or links."""
findings = []
for email in emails:
body = email.get("body", email.get("content", ""))
urls = email.get("urls", [])
text = body + " " + " ".join(urls) if urls else body
for pattern in PHISHING_URL_PATTERNS:
matches = re.findall(pattern, text, re.IGNORECASE)
for url in matches:
findings.append({
"subject": email.get("subject", ""),
"sender": email.get("from", email.get("sender", "")),
"recipient": email.get("to", email.get("recipient", "")),
"url": url[:200],
"pattern": pattern,
"severity": "HIGH",
"category": "phishing_url",
})
return findings
def detect_urgency_lures(emails):
"""Detect social engineering urgency keywords."""
findings = []
for email in emails:
subject = email.get("subject", "")
body = email.get("body", email.get("content", ""))
text = (subject + " " + body).lower()
matched = [kw for kw in URGENCY_KEYWORDS if kw in text]
if len(matched) >= 2:
findings.append({
"subject": email.get("subject", ""),
"sender": email.get("from", email.get("sender", "")),
"recipient": email.get("to", email.get("recipient", "")),
"keywords_matched": matched,
"severity": "MEDIUM",
"category": "urgency_lure",
})
return findings
def detect_sender_spoofing(emails):
"""Detect display name vs envelope sender mismatches."""
findings = []
for email in emails:
display_from = email.get("from", email.get("sender", ""))
envelope = email.get("envelope_from", email.get("return_path", ""))
if display_from and envelope:
display_domain = re.search(r"@([\w.-]+)", display_from)
envelope_domain = re.search(r"@([\w.-]+)", envelope)
if display_domain and envelope_domain:
if display_domain.group(1).lower() != envelope_domain.group(1).lower():
findings.append({
"display_from": display_from,
"envelope_from": envelope,
"recipient": email.get("to", email.get("recipient", "")),
"subject": email.get("subject", ""),
"severity": "HIGH",
"category": "sender_spoofing",
})
return findings
def main():
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Spearphishing Indicator Hunter")
parser.add_argument("--email-log", required=True, help="JSON lines email log")
parser.add_argument("--output", default="spearphishing_hunt_report.json")
parser.add_argument("--action", choices=[
"attachments", "urls", "urgency", "spoofing", "full_analysis"
], default="full_analysis")
args = parser.parse_args()
emails = load_email_logs(args.email_log)
report = {"generated_at": datetime.utcnow().isoformat(), "total_emails": len(emails),
"findings": {}}
print(f"[+] Loaded {len(emails)} email entries")
if args.action in ("attachments", "full_analysis"):
f = detect_suspicious_attachments(emails)
report["findings"]["suspicious_attachments"] = f
print(f"[+] Suspicious attachments: {len(f)}")
if args.action in ("urls", "full_analysis"):
f = detect_phishing_urls(emails)
report["findings"]["phishing_urls"] = f
print(f"[+] Phishing URLs: {len(f)}")
if args.action in ("urgency", "full_analysis"):
f = detect_urgency_lures(emails)
report["findings"]["urgency_lures"] = f
print(f"[+] Urgency lure emails: {len(f)}")
if args.action in ("spoofing", "full_analysis"):
f = detect_sender_spoofing(emails)
report["findings"]["sender_spoofing"] = f
print(f"[+] Sender spoofing detected: {len(f)}")
with open(args.output, "w") as f:
json.dump(report, f, indent=2, default=str)
print(f"[+] Report saved to {args.output}")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
process.py3.5 KB
Display-only source. This catalog never executes bundled scripts.
#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Spearphishing Detection - Analyzes logs for T1566.001 indicators."""
import json, csv, argparse, datetime, re
from collections import defaultdict
from pathlib import Path
DETECTION_PATTERNS = [
r'winword\\.exe.*cmd\\.exe',
r'excel\\.exe.*powershell',
r'outlook\\.exe.*wscript',
r'powerpnt\\.exe.*mshta',
]
def parse_logs(path):
p = Path(path)
if p.suffix == ".json":
with open(p, encoding="utf-8") as f:
data = json.load(f)
return data if isinstance(data, list) else data.get("events", [])
elif p.suffix == ".csv":
with open(p, encoding="utf-8-sig") as f:
return [dict(r) for r in csv.DictReader(f)]
return []
def analyze_event(event):
cmd = event.get("CommandLine", event.get("command_line", event.get("ProcessCommandLine", "")))
content = event.get("Task_Content", event.get("Parameters", event.get("RawEventData", "")))
search_text = f"{cmd} {content}"
risk = 0
indicators = []
for pattern in DETECTION_PATTERNS:
if re.search(pattern, search_text, re.IGNORECASE):
risk += 25
indicators.append(f"Pattern match: {pattern}")
if not indicators:
return None
risk = min(risk, 100)
return {
"technique": "T1566.001",
"command_line": cmd[:500] if cmd else content[:500],
"hostname": event.get("Computer", event.get("DeviceName", event.get("hostname", "unknown"))),
"user": event.get("User", event.get("AccountName", event.get("UserId", "unknown"))),
"timestamp": event.get("_time", event.get("timestamp", event.get("UtcTime", event.get("Timestamp", "")))),
"risk_score": risk,
"risk_level": "CRITICAL" if risk >= 75 else "HIGH" if risk >= 50 else "MEDIUM" if risk >= 25 else "LOW",
"indicators": indicators,
}
def run_hunt(input_path, output_dir):
print(f"[*] Spearphishing Hunt - {datetime.datetime.now().isoformat()}")
events = parse_logs(input_path)
findings = [f for f in (analyze_event(e) for e in events) if f]
Path(output_dir).mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
slug = "hunting_for_spearphi"
with open(Path(output_dir) / f"{slug}_findings.json", "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
json.dump({"hunt_id": f"TH-{datetime.date.today()}", "total_events": len(events), "findings": findings}, f, indent=2)
with open(Path(output_dir) / "hunt_report.md", "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
f.write(f"# Spearphishing Hunt Report\n\n")
f.write(f"**Date**: {datetime.datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')}\n")
f.write(f"**Findings**: {len(findings)}\n\n")
for finding in sorted(findings, key=lambda x: x["risk_score"], reverse=True)[:20]:
f.write(f"### [{finding['risk_level']}] {finding['technique']}\n")
f.write(f"- **Host**: {finding['hostname']}\n")
f.write(f"- **Indicators**: {', '.join(finding['indicators'])}\n\n")
print(f"[+] {len(findings)} findings written to {output_dir}")
def main():
p = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Spearphishing Detection")
sp = p.add_subparsers(dest="cmd")
h = sp.add_parser("hunt"); h.add_argument("--input", "-i", required=True); h.add_argument("--output", "-o", default="./hunting_for_spe_output")
sp.add_parser("queries")
args = p.parse_args()
if args.cmd == "hunt": run_hunt(args.input, args.output)
elif args.cmd == "queries":
print("=== Detection Queries ===")
print("See references/workflows.md for platform-specific queries")
else: p.print_help()
if __name__ == "__main__": main()
Assets 1
template.mdtext/markdown · 2.6 KBKeep exploring