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Event: net_suspicious_tool_exec

Quick Explanation

The net_suspicious_tool_exec recipe identifies the execution of network tools potentially used for command and control activities, such as curl, ssh, and wget, particularly when executed with IP addresses as arguments. This detection indicates possible unauthorized communication with external systems, posing risks of data exfiltration or remote command execution. Within a CI/CD pipeline, such activities may reveal vulnerabilities or malicious code, threatening data integrity and organizational reputation.

More Information

Information

  1. Description: Network suspicious tool
  2. Category: Command and Control
  3. Method: Web Protocols
  4. Importance: Critical, Medium

Analysis of the Event

This detection event is triggered by the execution of network tools considered suspicious due to their potential use in command and control activities. Monitored tools include common networking utilities such as curl, dig, ftp, mtr, nc, netcat-openbsd, nslookup, ping, rsync, scp, ssh, telnet, wget, and whois. The detection mechanism focuses on identifying these tools when executed with arguments containing IPv4 or IPv6 addresses, which could indicate attempts to communicate with external systems.

According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this event falls under the Command and Control tactic, specifically leveraging Web Protocols for communication. The detection suggests that an unauthorized or malicious actor might be using these tools to establish external connections, potentially for data exfiltration or remote command execution.

The implications of such detections are significant, as they could indicate ongoing attempts to breach system defenses or maintain persistent access within the environment. It is crucial to determine whether these tools are being used legitimately within the CI/CD pipeline or if they represent unauthorized activity requiring immediate attention.

Implications for the CI/CD Pipeline

The presence of suspicious network tool executions during CI/CD pipeline execution suggests that recent source code changes might have introduced vulnerabilities or malicious code attempting to communicate with external entities. If left unchecked, this could lead to unauthorized data exfiltration, remote code execution, or other forms of compromise in both the CI environment and eventually in production if deployed.

Such activities can undermine the integrity of the software development lifecycle, leading to potential data breaches, loss of intellectual property, and damage to organizational reputation. It is essential to address these detections promptly to ensure that no malicious activities are propagated through subsequent deployment stages.

  1. Review Code Changes: Thoroughly inspect recent pull requests and commits for any changes involving network tool usage.
  2. Look for scripts or binaries that invoke tools like curl, ssh, etc., especially with IP addresses as arguments.
  3. Verify if these usages are legitimate and necessary for build processes or testing environments.
  4. Examine Dependencies: Check if any new dependencies introduced by recent changes might be invoking these network tools.
  5. Ensure all third-party libraries and packages are from trusted sources.
  6. Conduct security assessments on new dependencies.
  7. Audit Logs: Analyze logs generated by Jibril and other monitoring tools for patterns indicating unauthorized usage.
  8. Identify any anomalies related to network communications initiated by build processes.
  9. Implement Network Controls: Restrict outbound connections from CI/CD environments unless explicitly required.
  10. Use firewall rules or security groups to limit access only to known good destinations.
  11. Implement strict egress filtering policies.
  12. Enhance Monitoring: Increase monitoring around critical phases of your CI/CD pipeline where such detections were observed.
  13. Set up alerts for unusual activities involving network tools.
  14. Conduct Security Reviews:
  15. Perform regular security reviews on your CI/CD configurations and practices.
  16. Ensure all team members are aware of secure coding practices and potential risks associated with improper use of networking utilities.

By following these steps, you can mitigate risks associated with suspicious network tool executions detected during your CI/CD processes and maintain a secure development environment.