Potential File Download via a Headless Browser

Last updated a month ago on 2026-04-07
Created 2 years ago on 2024-05-10

About

Identifies headless browser execution from a suspicious parent process with arguments consistent with scripted retrieval. Adversaries use browsers because they are trusted, signed binaries that proxy and application-control policies allow through, bypassing restrictions on direct download tools.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Command and ControlData Source: WindowsData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: Windows Security Event LogsData Source: Microsoft Defender XDRData Source: SentinelOneData Source: SysmonData Source: CrowdstrikeLanguage: eql
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

Command and Control (TA0011)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
endgame-*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*logs-endpoint.events.process-*logs-m365_defender.event-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*logs-system.security*logs-windows.forwarded*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*winlogbeat-*
Related Integrations

endpoint(external, opens in a new tab or window)

windows(external, opens in a new tab or window)

system(external, opens in a new tab or window)

m365_defender(external, opens in a new tab or window)

sentinel_one_cloud_funnel(external, opens in a new tab or window)

crowdstrike(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Query
text code block:
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and process.name : ("chrome.exe", "msedge.exe", "brave.exe", "browser.exe", "dragon.exe", "vivaldi.exe") and process.args : "--headless*" and process.args : ("--dump-dom", "*http*", "data:text/html;base64,*") and process.parent.name : ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "wscript.exe", "cscript.exe", "mshta.exe", "conhost.exe", "msiexec.exe", "explorer.exe", "rundll32.exe", "winword.exe", "excel.exe", "onenote.exe", "hh.exe", "powerpnt.exe", "forfiles.exe", "pcalua.exe", "wmiprvse.exe") and not process.executable : ( "?:\\inetpub\\wwwroot\\*\\ext\\modules\\html2pdf\\bin\\chrome\\*\\chrome-win64\\chrome.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\inetpub\\wwwroot\\*\\ext\\modules\\html2pdf\\bin\\chrome\\*\\chrome-win64\\chrome.exe" )

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Potential File Download via a Headless Browser in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(external, opens in a new tab or window).