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Check Elevated CMD using whoami

The following analytic identifies the execution of the "whoami" command with the "/group" flag, where the results are passed to the "find" command in order to look for a the string "12288". This string represents the…

Description

The following analytic identifies the execution of the "whoami" command with the "/group" flag, where the results are passed to the "find" command in order to look for a the string "12288". This string represents the SID of the group "Mandatory Label\High Mandatory Level" effectively checking if the current process is running as a "High" integrity process or with Administrator privileges. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process and command-line telemetry. This activity is significant because it is commonly used by attackers, such as FIN7, to perform reconnaissance on a compromised host. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could indicate an attacker is assessing their privilege level, potentially leading to further privilege escalation or persistence within the environment.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
LinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.

Known benign triggers

  • The combination of these commands is unlikely to occur in a production environment. Any matches should be investigated.

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