title: Odbcconf.EXE Suspicious DLL Location
id: 6b65c28e-11f3-46cb-902a-68f2cafaf474
status: test
description: Detects execution of "odbcconf" where the path of the DLL being registered is located in a potentially suspicious location.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/odbcconf-exe?view=sql-server-ver16
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/17/h/backdoor-carrying-emails-set-sights-on-russian-speaking-businesses.html
    - https://securityintelligence.com/posts/raspberry-robin-worm-dridex-malware/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-22
modified: 2023-05-26
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'odbcconf.exe'
    selection_cli:
        # Note: Add more suspicious locations
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ':\PerfLogs\'
            - ':\ProgramData\'
            - ':\Temp\'
            - ':\Users\Public\'
            - ':\Windows\Registration\CRMLog'
            - ':\Windows\System32\com\dmp\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\FxsTmp\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\spool\SERVERS\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\Tasks_Migrated\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\SyncCenter\'
            - ':\Windows\SysWOW64\com\dmp\'
            - ':\Windows\SysWOW64\FxsTmp\'
            - ':\Windows\SysWOW64\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\PLA\System\'
            - ':\Windows\SysWOW64\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\SyncCenter\'
            - ':\Windows\Tasks\'
            - ':\Windows\Temp\'
            - ':\Windows\Tracing\'
            - '\AppData\Local\Temp\'
            - '\AppData\Roaming\'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: Potentially Suspicious DLL Registered Via Odbcconf.EXE
id: ba4cfc11-d0fa-4d94-bf20-7c332c412e76
related:
    - id: 9f0a8bf3-a65b-440a-8c1e-5cb1547c8e70
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects execution of "odbcconf" with the "REGSVR" action where the DLL in question doesn't contain a ".dll" extension. Which is often used as a method to evade defenses.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/odbcconf-exe?view=sql-server-ver16
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/17/h/backdoor-carrying-emails-set-sights-on-russian-speaking-businesses.html
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-22
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'odbcconf.exe'
    selection_cli:
        # Note: The "/A" flag is not required to call a specific action
        CommandLine|contains: 'REGSVR '
    filter_main_dll_ext:
        CommandLine|contains: '.dll'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: Suspicious Driver/DLL Installation Via Odbcconf.EXE
id: cb0fe7c5-f3a3-484d-aa25-d350a7912729
related:
    - id: 3f5491e2-8db8-496b-9e95-1029fce852d4
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects execution of "odbcconf" with the "INSTALLDRIVER" action where the driver doesn't contain a ".dll" extension. This is often used as a defense evasion method.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20191023232753/https://twitter.com/Hexacorn/status/1187143326673330176
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/odbcconf-lolbin-trifecta/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-23
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'odbcconf.exe'
    selection_cli:
        # Note: The "/A" flag is not required to call a specific action
        CommandLine|contains: 'INSTALLDRIVER '
    filter_main_dll_ext:
        CommandLine|contains: '.dll'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: Suspicious Response File Execution Via Odbcconf.EXE
id: 2d32dd6f-3196-4093-b9eb-1ad8ab088ca5
related:
    - id: 5f03babb-12db-4eec-8c82-7b4cb5580868
      type: derived
    - id: 65d2be45-8600-4042-b4c0-577a1ff8a60e
      type: obsolete
status: test
description: Detects execution of "odbcconf" with the "-f" flag in order to load a response file with a non-".rsp" extension.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/odbcconf-exe?view=sql-server-ver16
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/17/h/backdoor-carrying-emails-set-sights-on-russian-speaking-businesses.html
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-22
modified: 2024-03-13
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'odbcconf.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -f '
    filter_main_rsp_ext:
        CommandLine|contains: '.rsp'
    filter_main_runonce_odbc:
        # When odbcconf is run with the "/R" flag, it creates a "runonce" key to run at the next reboot
        ParentImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\runonce.exe'
        Image: 'C:\Windows\System32\odbcconf.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: '.exe /E /F "C:\WINDOWS\system32\odbcconf.tmp"'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: Driver/DLL Installation Via Odbcconf.EXE
id: 3f5491e2-8db8-496b-9e95-1029fce852d4
related:
    - id: cb0fe7c5-f3a3-484d-aa25-d350a7912729
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects execution of "odbcconf" with "INSTALLDRIVER" which installs a new ODBC driver. Attackers abuse this to install and run malicious DLLs.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20191023232753/https://twitter.com/Hexacorn/status/1187143326673330176
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/odbcconf-lolbin-trifecta/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-22
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'odbcconf.exe'
    selection_cli:
        # Note: The "/A" flag is not required to call a specific action
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'INSTALLDRIVER '
            - '.dll'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate driver DLLs being registered via "odbcconf" will generate false positives. Investigate the path of the DLL and its contents to determine if the action is authorized.
level: medium

title: New DLL Registered Via Odbcconf.EXE
id: 9f0a8bf3-a65b-440a-8c1e-5cb1547c8e70
related:
    - id: ba4cfc11-d0fa-4d94-bf20-7c332c412e76
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects execution of "odbcconf" with "REGSVR" in order to register a new DLL (equivalent to running regsvr32). Attackers abuse this to install and run malicious DLLs.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/odbcconf-exe?view=sql-server-ver16
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/raspberry-robin/
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20191023232753/https://twitter.com/Hexacorn/status/1187143326673330176
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/odbcconf-lolbin-trifecta/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/17/h/backdoor-carrying-emails-set-sights-on-russian-speaking-businesses.html
author: Kirill Kiryanov, Beyu Denis, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-22
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'odbcconf.exe'
    selection_cli:
        # Note: The "/A" flag is not required to call a specific action
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'REGSVR '
            - '.dll'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate DLLs being registered via "odbcconf" will generate false positives. Investigate the path of the DLL and its content to determine if the action is authorized.
level: medium

title: Response File Execution Via Odbcconf.EXE
id: 5f03babb-12db-4eec-8c82-7b4cb5580868
related:
    - id: 2d32dd6f-3196-4093-b9eb-1ad8ab088ca5
      type: similar
    - id: 65d2be45-8600-4042-b4c0-577a1ff8a60e
      type: obsolete
status: test
description: Detects execution of "odbcconf" with the "-f" flag in order to load a response file which might contain a malicious action.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/odbcconf-exe?view=sql-server-ver16
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
    - https://www.cybereason.com/blog/threat-analysis-report-bumblebee-loader-the-high-road-to-enterprise-domain-control
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/odbcconf-lolbin-trifecta/
author: Kirill Kiryanov, Beyu Denis, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-22
modified: 2024-03-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'odbcconf.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -f '
    selection_rsp_ext:
        CommandLine|contains: '.rsp'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - The rule is looking for any usage of response file, which might generate false positive when this function is used legitimately. Investigate the contents of the ".rsp" file to determine if it is malicious and apply additional filters if necessary.
level: medium

title: Uncommon Child Process Spawned By Odbcconf.EXE
id: 8e3c7994-131e-4ba5-b6ea-804d49113a26
status: test
description: Detects an uncommon child process of "odbcconf.exe" binary which normally shouldn't have any child processes.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/odbcconf-exe?view=sql-server-ver16
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
    - https://medium.com/@cyberjyot/t1218-008-dll-execution-using-odbcconf-exe-803fa9e08dac
author: Harjot Singh @cyb3rjy0t
date: 2023-05-22
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - In rare occurrences where "odbcconf" crashes. It might spawn a "werfault" process
    - Other child processes will depend on the DLL being registered by actions like "regsvr". In case where the DLLs have external calls (which should be rare). Other child processes might spawn and additional filters need to be applied.
level: medium