title: CobaltStrike Named Pipe
id: d5601f8c-b26f-4ab0-9035-69e11a8d4ad2
related:
    - id: 85adeb13-4fc9-4e68-8a4a-c7cb2c336eb7 # Patterns
      type: similar
    - id: 0e7163d4-9e19-4fa7-9be6-000c61aad77a # Regex
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects the creation of a named pipe as used by CobaltStrike
references:
    - https://twitter.com/d4rksystem/status/1357010969264873472
    - https://labs.f-secure.com/blog/detecting-cobalt-strike-default-modules-via-named-pipe-analysis/
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/253
    - https://blog.cobaltstrike.com/2021/02/09/learn-pipe-fitting-for-all-of-your-offense-projects/
    - https://redcanary.com/threat-detection-report/threats/cobalt-strike/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Wojciech Lesicki
date: 2021-05-25
modified: 2022-10-31
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1055
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: pipe_created
    definition: 'Note that you have to configure logging for Named Pipe Events in Sysmon config (Event ID 17 and Event ID 18). The basic configuration is in popular sysmon configuration (https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config), but it is worth verifying. You can also use other repo, e.g. https://github.com/Neo23x0/sysmon-config, https://github.com/olafhartong/sysmon-modular. How to test detection? You can always use Cobalt Strike, but also you can check powershell script from this site https://svch0st.medium.com/guide-to-named-pipes-and-hunting-for-cobalt-strike-pipes-dc46b2c5f575'
detection:
    selection_MSSE:
        PipeName|contains|all:
            - '\MSSE-'
            - '-server'
    selection_postex:
        PipeName|startswith: '\postex_' # Also include the pipe "\postex_ssh_"
    selection_status:
        PipeName|startswith: '\status_'
    selection_msagent:
        PipeName|startswith: '\msagent_'
    selection_mojo:
        PipeName|startswith: '\mojo_'
    selection_interprocess:
        PipeName|startswith: '\interprocess_'
    selection_samr:
        PipeName|startswith: '\samr_'
    selection_netlogon:
        PipeName|startswith: '\netlogon_'
    selection_srvsvc:
        PipeName|startswith: '\srvsvc_'
    selection_lsarpc:
        PipeName|startswith: '\lsarpc_'
    selection_wkssvc:
        PipeName|startswith: '\wkssvc_'
    condition: 1 of selection*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: critical