YARA · Embee Research
EMBEERESEARCH_Win_Cobalt_Strike_Loader_Shellcode_Jun_2023
Detection of an encoder observed with Cobalt Strike shellcode
- Author
- Matthew @ Embee_research
- Date
- 2023-07-03
- Score / Quality
- 75 / 75
What this rule detects
Detection of an encoder observed with Cobalt Strike shellcode
Associated malware family: Cobalt Strike.
It defines 3 patterns (1 text, 2 hex, 0 regex).
Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.
Rule source
win-cobalt-strike-loader-shellcode-jun-2023.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule EMBEERESEARCH_Win_Cobalt_Strike_Loader_Shellcode_Jun_2023 : FILE
{
meta:
= "Detection of an encoder observed with Cobalt Strike shellcode"
= "Matthew @ Embee_research"
= "ea52b9e7-f2bd-5c9f-9ee1-506baa48be84"
= "2023-07-03"
= "2023-07-03"
= "https://github.com/embee-research/Yara-detection-rules/"
= "https://github.com/embee-research/Yara-detection-rules//blob/ac56d6f6fd2a30c8cb6e5c0455d6519210a8b0f4/Rules/win_cobalt_shellcode_encoder_jun_2023.yar#L1-L21"
= "N/A"
= "42b4b9ab681f3164168de84e76bcd8161865fa9e5871d70a6de534b23896e4f0"
= 75
= 75
= "FILE"
= ""
strings:
$get_enc_offset = {8b 88 c0 00 00 00 8b 90 c4 00 00 00 48 8d b0 c8 00 00 00}
$decode_loop = {ac 83 e1 03 d2 c8 ff c1 aa ff ca 75 f3}
$b64_initial_bytes = "SInISIlMJAiLiMAAAACLkMQAAABIjbDIAAAA" wide ascii
condition:
(( $get_enc_offset and $decode_loop ) or $b64_initial_bytes ) and filesize < 10000KB
}
Strings (3 patterns)
| Identifier | Type | Value | Modifiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| $get_enc_offset | hex | {8b 88 c0 00 00 00 8b 90 c4 00 00 00 48 8d b0 c8 00 00 00} | |
| $decode_loop | hex | {ac 83 e1 03 d2 c8 ff c1 aa ff ca 75 f3} | |
| $b64_initial_bytes | text | "SInISIlMJAiLiMAAAACLkMQAAABIjbDIAAAA" | wide ascii |
Condition
(( $get_enc_offset and $decode_loop ) or $b64_initial_bytes ) and filesize < 10000KBIn plain words (Heuristic)
- The file must be smaller than 10000KB (a cheap guard that skips large files).
- Pattern $get_enc_offset must be present.
- Pattern $decode_loop must be present.
- Pattern $b64_initial_bytes must be present.
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Licence & attribution
Author: Matthew @ Embee_research
Source repository: Embee Research @ ac56d6f6fd
Licence: Detection Rule License 1.1 (repository licence)
Mirrored via YARA Forge 20260927, which prefixes rule names with the source and adds normalised meta fields.
Rule id: ea52b9e7-f2bd-5c9f-9ee1-506baa48be84
Metadata
| vendor |
|---|
Tags:FILE
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