Detect Suspicious Commands Initiated by Webserver Processes
This query was originally published in the threat analytics report, Operation Soft Cell. Operation Soft Cell is a series of campaigns targeting users' call logs at telecommunications providers throughout the world.…
Description
This query was originally published in the threat analytics report, Operation Soft Cell. Operation Soft Cell is a series of campaigns targeting users' call logs at telecommunications providers throughout the world. These attacks date from as early as 2012. Operation Soft Cell operators sometimes use legitimate web server processes to launch commands, especially for network discovery and user/owner discovery. The following query detects activity of this kind. Reference - https://www.cybereason.com/blog/operation-soft-cell-a-worldwide-campaign-against-telecommunications-providers
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiIaaSIdentity ProviderLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesOffice SuiteSaaSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 4 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source product
- microsoftthreatprotection
- Log source service
- deviceprocessevents
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
No references are available for this detection.
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- fa2f7d8a-6726-465a-aa72-6f6e3d4c99d7
- Tagged by the source as
- DefenseEvasionDiscoveryExecution
Licence
- Published under
- MIT LicenseRead the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- MITRead the origin licence
Authorship
- Published
- Sep 1, 2026
- Version
- 1