MediumSplunk security content Michael Haag +1

Windows IIS Components New Module Added

Description

The following analytic detects the addition of new IIS modules on a Windows IIS server. It leverages the Windows Event log - Microsoft-IIS-Configuration/Operational, specifically EventCode 29, to identify this activity. This behavior is significant because IIS modules are rarely added to production servers, and unauthorized modules could indicate malicious activity. If confirmed malicious, an attacker could use these modules to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or maintain persistence within the environment, potentially compromising the server and sensitive data.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform: Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
Log source category: windows_iis_29

Known benign triggers

False positives may be present when updates or an administrator adds a new module to IIS. Monitor and filter as needed.

References

Links the source published beside this detection. Reference is the link the source wrote, unmodified. Class is decided by this catalogue from the host and path, not stated by the source. Cited by counts published detections citing the same resource, including this one, and the sources beneath it count the repositories this catalogue ingests, which is not the same as independent research.
Reference	Class	Cited by
gist.github.com/MHaggis/64396dfd9fc3734e1d1901a8f2f07040	Tool	2
github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1505.004/T1505.004.yaml#L5	Detection test	3
github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/tree/master/atomics/T1505.004	Detection test	5
strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/appcmd.exe-055B2B09409F980BF9B5A3969D01E5B2.html	Unclassified	4
unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-oilrig-uses-rgdoor-iis-backdoor-targets-middle-east/	Threat report	6
www.crowdstrike.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/crowdstrike-iceapple-a-novel-internet-information-services-post-exploitation-framework-1.pdf	Security research	6
www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/12/12/iis-modules-the-evolution-of-web-shells-and-how-to-detect-them/	Threat report	11from 2 sources
www.secureworks.com/research/bronze-union	Unclassified	6

Detection rules

Windows IIS Components New Module Added

Description

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Known benign triggers

MITRE ATT&CK mappings

References

From the source

Licence

Authorship

Detection rules