Microsoft Defender Alert Details
Alert ID: MD-CLIPBOARD-1115-7842 Alert Time: 2024-02-28 09:30:15 EST Severity: MEDIUM (72/100) Source: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Rule: “Clipboard Monitoring by Suspicious Process” MITRE ATT&CK: T1115 – Clipboard Data
Alert Details:
Detection: Process monitoring clipboard contents repeatedly
Host: FIN-WS-078 (Finance Workstation) User: bturner@company.com (Brian Turner, Accountant) Time: 09:15-09:30 EST
Process Details:
Process: C:\Users\bturner\AppData\Local\Temp\clipmon.exe (PID: 4789)
SHA256: a1b2c3d4e5f67890a1b2c3d4e5f67890a1b2c3d4
Parent: explorer.exe
User: bturner
Clipboard API Calls:
OpenClipboard (open clipboard) – 127 times
GetClipboardData (retrieve data) – 127 times
CloseClipboard (close) – 127 times
Frequency: Every 5 seconds
Data Captured (examples):
09:15:22 – “Password: Winter2024!” (user pasting password)
09:16:45 – “Account Number: 1234-5678-9012-3456”
09:18:12 – “SSN: 123-45-6789”
09:20:05 – “Confidential Merger Details: Company X acquisition”
… (total 127 clipboard entries captured)
Output File:
C:\Users\bturner\AppData\Local\Temp\clipboard_log.txt (created 09:30)
Contains all captured clipboard data
Detection Logic:
Process monitoring clipboard every 5 seconds (highly unusual)
Process from Temp folder (suspicious)
Clipboard contains sensitive data (passwords, PII, confidential)
Pattern matches credential theft / data harvesting
SOC Investigation Process
Step
Action
Tools Used
Findings
1. Alert Validation
Verify Defender alert
Microsoft 365 Defender
Confirmed clipboard monitoring activity
2. Process Analysis
Analyze clipmon.exe
CrowdStrike Sandbox
Malware that logs clipboard contents to file
3. User Interview
Contact bturner
Teams, Phone
User did NOT run this tool (account compromised)
4. Immediate Action
Terminate process
Defender
Process killed
5. File Deletion
Delete clipmon.exe and clipboard_log.txt
Defender
Files removed
6. Account Remediation
Disable bturner account
Azure AD, AD
Account disabled; password reset
Jira Incident Report
Ticket: SOC-2024-141 Summary: T1115 – Clipboard Monitoring Malware Captures Sensitive Data Status: RESOLVED Resolution: MALICIOUS – Clipboard Data Compromised Priority: P2 – MEDIUM Labels: T1115, clipboard-data, credential-theft, defender, compromised-account Components: Endpoint-Security, Data-Protection
INCIDENT ANALYSIS REPORT
1. Initial Context:
Detection Source: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Alert: “Clipboard Monitoring by Suspicious Process”.
Host: FIN-WS-078 (Finance Department, user bturner).
Process: C:\Users\bturner\AppData\Local\Temp\clipmon.exe.
Time: 2024-02-28 09:30 EST.
Technique: MITRE ATT&CK T1115 – Clipboard Data.
2. Technical Analysis:
Attack Chain:
08:30 – bturner account compromised via phishing
08:45 – Attacker logs into FIN-WS-078 via RDP
09:00 – Attacker downloads clipmon.exe to Temp folder
09:05 – Attacker executes clipmon.exe
09:05-09:30 – Malware monitors clipboard every 5 seconds
09:30 – Defender detects
Malware Analysis:
Name: clipmon.exe (clipboard logger)
SHA256: a1b2c3d4…
Capabilities:
Monitors clipboard every 5 seconds
Logs all clipboard content to clipboard_log.txt
No network exfiltration (staged locally)
Data Captured (127 entries):
Passwords (3) – including domain password
Credit card numbers (2) – personal, not corporate
SSN (1) – personal
Bank account numbers (2)
Confidential merger details (from email copy-paste)
Various other text snippets
User Activity:
User was working normally, unaware of monitoring
Clipboard contained sensitive work and personal data
3. Investigation Findings:
Timeline:
08:30 – Account compromised
08:45 – Attacker logs in
09:00-09:30 – Clipboard monitoring
09:30 – Defender alert
09:32 – SOC investigates
09:33 – Process terminated
09:34 – Files deleted
Indicators of Compromise (IoCs):
Files:
– C:\Users\bturner\AppData\Local\Temp\clipmon.exe (SHA256: a1b2c3d4…)
– C:\Users\bturner\AppData\Local\Temp\clipboard_log.txt
Account:
– bturner (compromised)
4. Containment Actions:
Immediate Actions:
Terminated clipmon.exe.
Deleted executable and clipboard log.
Disabled bturner account.
Reset password.
Data Protection:
Clipboard log contained sensitive data.
No exfiltration occurred (file local only).
All data deleted.
User Remediation:
User advised to change personal passwords (credit card, bank).
Security awareness reinforced.
5. Root Cause Analysis:
Primary Cause: User account compromised, allowing attacker to deploy clipboard logger.
Contributing Factors:
No MFA on account.
RDP allowed from internet.
No application control blocking unknown executables.
6. Business Impact:
Operational Impact: Finance user offline for 2 hours.
Data Exposure: 127 clipboard entries captured (passwords, PII, confidential).
7. Remediation & Prevention:
Completed Actions:
Malware removed.
Clipboard log deleted.
Account secured.
Technical Controls Enhanced:
Enforced MFA for all users.
Moved RDP behind VPN only.
Implemented application control.
Enhanced monitoring for clipboard access.
8. Conclusion:
An attacker deployed a clipboard monitoring malware on a finance user’s workstation, capturing 127 clipboard entries including passwords and confidential data. Defender detected the suspicious clipboard access and enabled rapid containment before exfiltration.
Closure Rationale: Malware removed; clipboard data deleted; account secured.
Analyst: [Your Name], SOC Analyst Date: 2024-02-28 10:30 EST