--- name: implementing-velociraptor-for-ir-collection-5b2b2950ff90 description: Deploy and configure Velociraptor for scalable endpoint forensic artifact collection during incident response using VQL queries, hunts, and pre-built artifact packs across Windows, Linux, and macOS environments. domain: cybersecurity subdomain: incident-response tags: - velociraptor - dfir - endpoint-collection - vql - forensic-artifacts - rapid7 - threat-hunting - incident-response mitre_attack: - T1486 - T1490 - T1070 - T1078 - T1005 version: '1.0' author: mahipal license: Apache-2.0 d3fend_techniques: - Executable Denylisting - Execution Isolation - File Metadata Consistency Validation - Content Format Conversion - File Content Analysis nist_csf: - RS.MA-01 - RS.MA-02 - RS.AN-03 - RC.RP-01 --- # Implementing Velociraptor for IR Collection ## Overview Velociraptor is an advanced open-source endpoint monitoring, digital forensics, and incident response platform developed by Rapid7. It uses the Velociraptor Query Language (VQL) to create custom artifacts that collect, query, and monitor almost any aspect of an endpoint. Velociraptor enables incident response teams to rapidly collect and examine forensic artifacts from across a network, supporting large-scale deployments with minimal performance impact. The client-server architecture with Fleetspeak communication enables real-time data collection from thousands of endpoints simultaneously, with offline endpoints picking up hunts when they reconnect. ## When to Use - When deploying or configuring implementing velociraptor for ir collection capabilities in your environment - When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements - When building or improving security architecture for this domain - When conducting security assessments that require this implementation ## Prerequisites - Familiarity with incident response concepts and tools - Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution - Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed - Appropriate authorization for any testing activities ## Architecture ### Components - **Velociraptor Server**: Central management console with web UI and API - **Velociraptor Client (Agent)**: Lightweight agent deployed to endpoints - **Fleetspeak**: Communication framework between client and server - **VQL Engine**: Query language engine for artifact collection - **Filestore**: Server-side storage for collected artifacts - **Datastore**: Metadata storage for hunts, flows, and client information ### Supported Platforms - Windows (7+, Server 2008R2+) - Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL) - macOS (10.13+) ## Deployment ### Server Installation ```bash # Download latest release wget https://github.com/Velocidex/velociraptor/releases/latest/download/velociraptor-linux-amd64 # Generate server configuration ./velociraptor-linux-amd64 config generate -i # Start the server ./velociraptor-linux-amd64 --config server.config.yaml frontend # Or run as systemd service sudo cp velociraptor-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/velociraptor sudo velociraptor --config /etc/velociraptor/server.config.yaml service install ``` ### Client Deployment ```bash # Repack client MSI for Windows deployment velociraptor --config server.config.yaml config client > client.config.yaml velociraptor config repack --msi velociraptor-windows-amd64.msi client.config.yaml output.msi # Deploy via Group Policy, SCCM, or Intune # Client runs as a Windows service: "Velociraptor" # Linux client deployment velociraptor --config client.config.yaml client -v # macOS client deployment velociraptor --config client.config.yaml client -v ``` ### Docker Deployment ```bash docker run --name velociraptor \ -v /opt/velociraptor:/velociraptor/data \ -p 8000:8000 -p 8001:8001 -p 8889:8889 \ velocidex/velociraptor ``` ## Core IR Artifact Collection ### Windows Forensic Artifacts ```sql -- Collect Windows Event Logs SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.EventLogs.EvtxHunter( EvtxGlob="C:/Windows/System32/winevt/Logs/*.evtx", IDRegex="4624|4625|4648|4672|4688|4698|4769|7045" ) -- Collect Prefetch files for execution evidence SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Forensics.Prefetch() -- Collect Shimcache entries SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Registry.AppCompatCache() -- Collect Amcache entries SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Forensics.Amcache() -- Collect UserAssist data SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Forensics.UserAssist() -- Collect NTFS MFT timestamps SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.NTFS.MFT( MFTFilename="C:/$MFT", FileRegex=".(exe|dll|ps1|bat|cmd)$" ) -- Collect scheduled tasks SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.System.TaskScheduler() -- Collect running processes with hashes SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.System.Pslist() -- Collect network connections SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Network.Netstat() -- Collect DNS cache SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Network.DNSCache() -- Collect browser history SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Applications.Chrome.History() -- Collect PowerShell history SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Forensics.PowerShellHistory() -- Collect autoruns/persistence SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Persistence.PermanentWMIEvents() SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.System.Services() SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.System.StartupItems() ``` ### Linux Forensic Artifacts ```sql -- Collect auth logs SELECT * FROM Artifact.Linux.Sys.AuthLogs() -- Collect bash history SELECT * FROM Artifact.Linux.Forensics.BashHistory() -- Collect crontab entries SELECT * FROM Artifact.Linux.Sys.Crontab() -- Collect running processes SELECT * FROM Artifact.Linux.Sys.Pslist() -- Collect network connections SELECT * FROM Artifact.Linux.Network.Netstat() -- Collect SSH authorized keys SELECT * FROM Artifact.Linux.Ssh.AuthorizedKeys() -- Collect systemd services SELECT * FROM Artifact.Linux.Services() ``` ### Triage Collection (All-in-One) ```sql -- Windows Triage Collection artifact -- Collects event logs, prefetch, registry, browser data, and more SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.KapeFiles.Targets( Device="C:", _AllFiles=FALSE, _EventLogs=TRUE, _Prefetch=TRUE, _RegistryHives=TRUE, _WebBrowsers=TRUE, _WindowsTimeline=TRUE ) ``` ## Hunt Operations ### Creating a Hunt ``` 1. Navigate to Hunt Manager in Velociraptor Web UI 2. Click "New Hunt" 3. Configure: - Description: "IR Triage - Case 2025-001" - Include/Exclude labels for targeting - Artifact selection (e.g., Windows.Forensics.Prefetch) - Resource limits (CPU, IOPS, timeout) 4. Launch hunt 5. Monitor progress in real-time ``` ### VQL Hunt Examples ```sql -- Hunt for specific file hash across all endpoints SELECT * FROM Artifact.Generic.Detection.HashHunter( Hashes="e99a18c428cb38d5f260853678922e03" ) -- Hunt for YARA signatures in memory SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Detection.Yara.Process( YaraRule='rule malware { strings: $s1 = "malicious_string" condition: $s1 }' ) -- Hunt for Sigma rule matches in event logs SELECT * FROM Artifact.Server.Import.SigmaRules() -- Hunt for suspicious scheduled tasks SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.System.TaskScheduler() WHERE Command =~ "powershell|cmd|wscript|mshta|rundll32" -- Hunt for processes with network connections to suspicious IPs SELECT * FROM Artifact.Windows.Network.Netstat() WHERE RemoteAddr =~ "10\\.13\\.37\\." ``` ## Real-Time Monitoring ```sql -- Monitor for new process creation SELECT * FROM watch_etw(guid="{22fb2cd6-0e7b-422b-a0c7-2fad1fd0e716}") WHERE EventData.ImageName =~ "powershell|cmd|wscript" -- Monitor file system changes SELECT * FROM watch_directory(path="C:/Windows/Temp/") -- Monitor registry changes SELECT * FROM watch_registry(key="HKLM/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run/**") ``` ## Integration with SIEM/SOAR ### Splunk Integration ``` Velociraptor Server --> Elastic/OpenSearch --> Splunk HEC --> Direct syslog forwarding --> Velociraptor API --> Custom scripts --> Splunk ``` ### Elastic Stack Integration ```yaml # Velociraptor server config for Elastic output Monitoring: elastic: addresses: - https://elastic.local:9200 username: velociraptor password: secure_password index: velociraptor ``` ## MITRE ATT&CK Mapping | Technique | VQL Artifact | |-----------|-------------| | T1059 - Command Scripting | Windows.EventLogs.EvtxHunter (4104, 4688) | | T1053 - Scheduled Task | Windows.System.TaskScheduler | | T1547 - Boot/Logon Autostart | Windows.Persistence.PermanentWMIEvents | | T1003 - OS Credential Dumping | Windows.Detection.Yara.Process | | T1021 - Remote Services | Windows.EventLogs.EvtxHunter (4624 Type 3/10) | | T1070 - Indicator Removal | Windows.EventLogs.Cleared | ## References - [Velociraptor Official Documentation](https://docs.velociraptor.app/) - [Rapid7 Velociraptor Product Page](https://www.rapid7.com/products/velociraptor/) - [CISA Velociraptor Resource](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/services/velociraptor) - [Velociraptor GitHub Repository](https://github.com/Velocidex/velociraptor) - [Pen Test Partners: Large-Scale Velociraptor](https://www.pentestpartners.com/security-blog/using-velociraptor-for-large-scale-endpoint-visibility-and-rapid-threat-hunting/) --- Source attribution: costrict-plugins-repo Original project: https://github.com/costrict-plugins-repo/mukul975-anthropic-cybersecurity-skills-cybersecurity-skills/blob/1b344d155f00bae5cf27d8eba9508e8f5050d904/skills/implementing-velociraptor-for-ir-collection/SKILL.md License: Apache-2.0 License information: https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub. ## Upstream license notice Apache License Version 2.0, January 2004 http://www.apache.org/licenses/ TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USE, REPRODUCTION, AND DISTRIBUTION 1. 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See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License. # Mega AI Hub resource metadata Creator / publisher: costrict-plugins-repo Original project: https://github.com/costrict-plugins-repo/mukul975-anthropic-cybersecurity-skills-cybersecurity-skills/blob/1b344d155f00bae5cf27d8eba9508e8f5050d904/skills/implementing-velociraptor-for-ir-collection/SKILL.md Attribution basis: Source repository record Fields of work: Development & Engineering Roles: Security Engineer Specialties: API, Backend Tools: Rapid7, Velociraptor Country applicability: Country not specified Classification basis: Source catalog labels Instruction SHA-256: 6abc91741c4dfa02ede765b71e166f49405150f895d337b4d518e511d20e5e7f