# Detailed Hunting Workflow - Building Threat Hunt Hypothesis Framework

## Phase 1: Data Collection and Querying

### Splunk SPL Query
```spl
| makeresults
| eval hypothesis="Adversaries may be using [TECHNIQUE] to [OBJECTIVE] against [TARGET] via [VECTOR]"
| eval data_sources="[List required data sources]"
| eval queries="[Specific SPL queries to test hypothesis]"
| eval success_criteria="[What constitutes confirming/refuting hypothesis]"
```

### KQL Query (Microsoft Defender for Endpoint)
```kql
let HuntHypothesis = datatable(Component:string, Description:string)
[
    "Technique", "MITRE ATT&CK technique being hunted",
    "Target", "Systems or accounts in scope",
    "Data Sources", "Logs and telemetry required",
    "Indicators", "Observable evidence of technique",
    "Success Criteria", "What confirms or refutes hypothesis"
];
HuntHypothesis
```

## Phase 2: Baseline and Anomaly Detection

### Step 2.1 - Establish Normal Behavior Baseline
- Collect 30 days of historical data for the targeted technique
- Document expected patterns, frequencies, and legitimate use cases
- Identify known false positive sources and document exceptions
- Build statistical baseline (mean, standard deviation) for key metrics

### Step 2.2 - Identify Anomalies
- Compare current activity against the 30-day baseline
- Flag events exceeding 3 standard deviations from normal
- Prioritize anomalies by risk score and potential business impact
- Cross-reference with threat intelligence for known IOCs

## Phase 3: Investigation and Correlation

### Step 3.1 - Deep Dive Analysis
- For each anomaly, collect full process tree context
- Correlate with network activity, file operations, and authentication events
- Check binary signatures, file hashes, and certificate validity
- Review user account context and access patterns

### Step 3.2 - Attack Chain Reconstruction
- Map findings to MITRE ATT&CK kill chain stages
- Identify initial access vector if applicable
- Trace lateral movement and privilege escalation paths
- Determine data access and potential exfiltration

## Phase 4: Validation and Response

### Step 4.1 - True/False Positive Determination
- Verify findings with system owners and IT operations
- Check change management records for authorized activities
- Validate user context (authorized actions vs. compromised account)
- Document determination rationale for each finding

### Step 4.2 - Response Actions
- For confirmed threats: initiate incident response procedures
- For detection gaps: create or update detection rules
- For false positives: tune existing rules and update exclusions
- Update threat hunting playbook with lessons learned

## Phase 5: Documentation and Reporting

### Step 5.1 - Hunt Report
- Summarize hypothesis, methodology, and findings
- Include all queries executed and their results
- Document IOCs discovered and detection rules created
- Provide recommendations for security improvements

### Step 5.2 - Knowledge Base Update
- Add findings to threat intelligence platform
- Update MITRE ATT&CK coverage heatmap
- Share detection rules via Sigma format
- Schedule follow-up hunts for related techniques
