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YARA · Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)

SIGNATURE_BASE_EXPL_Cleo_Exploitation_PS1_Indicators_Dec24

Detects encoded and decoded PowerShell loader used during Cleo software exploitation (as reported by Huntress in December 2024)

ExploitSignature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron)Detection Rule License 1.1Compiles with YARA-X
Author
Florian Roth
Date
2024-12-10
Modified
2024-12-12
Score / Quality
75 / 85

What this rule detects

Detects encoded and decoded PowerShell loader used during Cleo software exploitation (as reported by Huntress in December 2024)

It defines 5 patterns (5 text, 0 hex, 0 regex).

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

expl-cleo-exploitation-ps1-indicators-dec24.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SIGNATURE_BASE_EXPL_Cleo_Exploitation_PS1_Indicators_Dec24 : SCRIPT
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects encoded and decoded PowerShell loader used during Cleo software exploitation (as reported by Huntress in December 2024)"
		author = "Florian Roth"
		id = "491cda57-0ad0-5ddc-90cb-48411eef2f2e"
		date = "2024-12-10"
		modified = "2024-12-12"
		reference = "https://www.huntress.com/blog/threat-advisory-oh-no-cleo-cleo-software-actively-being-exploited-in-the-wild"
		source_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/yara/expl_cleo_dec24.yar#L185-L202"
		license_url = "https://github.com/Neo23x0/signature-base/blob/94a1c48d7ab499879287ff611dfe7f9c56376030/LICENSE"
		logic_hash = "87dcd0aa3c16d8948514b1d8589d38c6cc73bf7e6262f4517659cead16fedd3d"
		score = 75
		quality = 85
		tags = "SCRIPT"

	strings:
		$xe1 = "Start-Process -WindowStyle Hidden -FilePath jre\\bin\\java.exe" base64 ascii wide
		$xe2 = "$f=\"cleo." base64 ascii wide
		$xe3 = "<Detail level=\"1\">Executing 'cmd.exe /c \"powershell -NonInteractive -EncodedCommand " base64 ascii wide
		$x1 = "$f=\"cleo." ascii wide
		$x2 = "<Detail level=\"1\">Executing 'cmd.exe /c \"powershell -NonInteractive -EncodedCommand " ascii wide

	condition:
		1 of them
}

Strings (5 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$xe1text"Start-Process -WindowStyle Hidden -FilePath jre\\bin\\java.exe"base64 ascii wide
$xe2text"$f=\"cleo."base64 ascii wide
$xe3text"<Detail level=\"1\">Executing 'cmd.exe /c \"powershell -NonInteractive -EncodedCommand "base64 ascii wide
$x1text"$f=\"cleo."ascii wide
$x2text"<Detail level=\"1\">Executing 'cmd.exe /c \"powershell -NonInteractive -EncodedCommand "ascii wide

Condition

1 of them

In plain words (Heuristic)

  • At least 1 patterns in the rule must match.

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References

Licence & attribution

Author: Florian Roth

Source repository: Signature Base (Florian Roth / Nextron) @ 94a1c48d7a

Licence: Detection Rule License 1.1 (repository licence)

Original rule

Mirrored via YARA Forge 20260927, which prefixes rule names with the source and adds normalised meta fields.

Rule id: 491cda57-0ad0-5ddc-90cb-48411eef2f2e

Tags:SCRIPT