topic Re: building search query in Splunk Search

building search query

dilenthakuri — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 12:56:53 GMT

Hi Guys,

I am just wondering if anyone can put me in the right direction - I have a question about search queries in Splunk. For example, in the below 2 simple query:

A. sourcetype="WinEventLog" EventCode=4688 New_Process_Name="*powershell.exe" | stats count by New_Process_Name, Process_Command_Line

B. sourcetype="XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational” EventID=1 Image=”*powershell.exe” | stats count by Image, CommandLine

How do I know the following fields exists in that particular log?

1. New_Process_Name

2. Process_Command_Line

3. Image

etc.

Thanks guys!!

Re: building search query

richgalloway — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 13:16:01 GMT

You know the New_Process_Name and Image fields exist because otherwise you will get no results from the base searches. If Process_Command_Line does not exist then stats will return no results.

Re: building search query

dilenthakuri — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 13:48:29 GMT

Thanks @richgalloway !

So "Base Searches" you mean just run the below query first

sourcetype="WinEventLog" EventCode=4688

And then, look for the field that can be appended to the search query further? Otherwise, it's not possible to remember or memorise ALL the field values while building the query. I see multiple of like below parameters set in the query:

Process_Command_Line
CommandLine
ParentCommandLine
Image
ParentImage
TargetFilename
User

Or, we just have to know all of these by heart? What's the method you guys use to build complex queries?

Thank you.

Re: building search query

richgalloway — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 12:46:20 GMT

The base query (outside of a dashboard) is the part before the first pipe.

One does not need to memorize available fields, although that often comes from repeated use. Instead, do your query building in Verbose Mode and consult the "Interesting fields" area to see what is available.

Re: building search query

dilenthakuri — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 14:19:00 GMT

Thank you @richgalloway What do you mean by 'Outside of the Dashboard'? Sorry

Re: building search query

richgalloway — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 15:28:28 GMT

In a dashboard, the term "base search" has a different meaning.