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Introduction:
A modern Security Operations Center (SOC) is a dynamic fusion of SIEM analytics, threat hunting, and automated response. This article distills the core technical proficiencies gained during an intensive internship into actionable commands and configurations for aspiring analysts.
Learning Objectives:
- Master fundamental SIEM querying for threat detection in QRadar and Splunk.
- Implement critical command-line tools for live system and network analysis.
- Construct basic automation workflows to streamline incident response.
You Should Know:
1. QRadar AQL for Initial Triage
`SELECT DATEFORMAT(starttime, ‘dd/MM/yyyy’) as Date, username, sourceIP, destinationIP, LOGSOURCENAME(logsourceid), QIDNAME(qid) as EventName, UTF8(payload) as Details FROM events WHERE username IS NOT NULL LAST 24 HOURS ORDER BY starttime DESC LIMIT 100`
This AQL (Ariel Query Language) command is your primary tool in QRadar. It fetches the last 100 events within 24 hours where a username is present, providing a high-level overview of authentication and user activity. Always start your investigation by filtering on non-null critical fields like `username` or `sourceIP` to cut through the noise.
2. Splunk Hunting for Suspicious Processes
`index=windows sourcetype=”WinEventLog:Security” EventCode=4688 New_Process_Name=powershell | table _time, host, user, New_Process_Name, CommandLine | sort – _time`
This SPL (Search Processing Language) query hunts for PowerShell execution, a common attacker tool. It filters the Windows Security event log for Process Creation events (4688) and extracts the time, host, user, process name, and the critical `CommandLine` field to review for obfuscated or malicious arguments.
3. Live System Analysis with Windows Command Line
`C:\> wmic process get Name,ProcessId,ParentProcessId,CommandLine /format:csv`
The WMIC command provides a detailed, scriptable list of running processes. Unlike Task Manager, it reveals the often-hidden `CommandLine` and ParentProcessId. This is essential for identifying processes spawned by a malicious parent or spotting suspicious execution paths that evade traditional monitoring.
4. Linux Network State Investigation
`$ sudo netstat -tulnp | grep -E ‘(:80|:443|:22)’`
This netstat command lists all listening (-l) TCP (-t) and UDP (-u) sockets and maps them to their corresponding process name and PID (-n and -p). Piping to grep to filter for common service ports (HTTP, HTTPS, SSH) helps quickly identify unauthorized services listening on network interfaces.
5. Automating IOC Lookups with n8n
Create an n8n workflow with an HTTP Trigger node connected to a Function node. Paste this JavaScript snippet into the Function node:
const ioc = items[bash].json.ioc;
const virustotalUrl = <code>https://www.virustotal.com/api/v3/ip_addresses/${ioc}`;
const headers = {'x-apikey': 'YOUR_VT_API_KEY'};
return [{json: {url: virustotalUrl, headers: headers, ioc: ioc}}];
Connect this to an HTTP Request node set to `GET` and the expression{{ $json.url }}`. This simple automation accepts an Indicator of Compromise (IOC) via webhook, constructs a VirusTotal API v3 URL, and performs the lookup, dramatically speeding up the initial validation of suspicious artifacts.
6. Windows Firewall Hardening Rule
`netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name=”Block Suspicious Inbound” dir=in action=block protocol=TCP localport=4444 remoteip=192.168.1.100 enable=yes`
This command creates a static Windows Advanced Firewall rule to block a specific suspicious combination: inbound TCP traffic on port 4444 (a common Metasploit listener port) from a specific internal IP address. Use this to quickly contain a compromised host while investigation is underway.
7. Linux Process Memory Dump for Malware Analysis
`$ sudo gcore -o /tmp/malware_dump `
The `gcore` command generates a core dump of a running process without killing it. This is a non-disruptive way to acquire a memory sample of a suspected malicious process for later static analysis, preserving valuable forensic evidence that would be lost on termination.
What Undercode Say:
- Automation is the Force Multiplier: Manual SOC tasks are unsustainable. The ability to codify repetitive tasks like IOC lookups, evidence collection, and initial ticket creation with tools like n8n and Splunk macros is what separates junior analysts from senior responders.
- Context is King: A command or log entry is meaningless without context. Correlating a suspicious process (
wmic) with its network activity (netstat) and its originating logon session (SIEM) is the core analytical loop of effective threat hunting.
The modern SOC analyst must be a hybrid of an investigator, a log reader, and a part-time scripter. The technical skills demonstrated here—ranging from complex SIEM queries to rapid endpoint interrogation—form the new baseline. The future belongs to those who can not only execute these commands but also weave them into automated playbooks, transforming raw data into actionable intelligence at machine speed. The internship experience outlined is a perfect blueprint for building this critical skillset.
Prediction:
The manual, command-by-command investigation will become a legacy skill reserved for the most complex cases. The future of SOC operations is predictive and autonomous. AI will analyze telemetry to predict attack paths and automatically deploy micro-firewall rules (like the `netsh` example) to segment threats in real-time. The human analyst’s role will evolve from hunter to orchestrator, managing and refining these automated defense systems.
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IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Aniruddha Shrawagi – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
