Hacktool - WinPEAS Execution Patterns

// Copyright 2025 Google LLC. Licensed under Apache-2.0.

rule hacktool_winpeas_execution_patterns {

    meta:
      author = "Georg Lauenstein - suresecure GmbH"
      description = "This detection rule identifies the execution of WinPEAS (Windows Privilege Escalation Awesome Script), a post-exploitation reconnaissance tool used to discover privilege escalation paths on Windows systems. WinPEAS performs a wide range of local enumeration checks, including service misconfigurations, permission issues, token privileges, and more. Its usage is commonly observed during red team assessments and by adversaries seeking to elevate privileges after gaining initial access. WinPEAS checks are well-documented in the HackTricks knowledge base."
      rule_id = "mr_9c9ad668-485a-4b10-b85d-36ba63546304"
      rule_name = "Hacktool - WinPEAS Execution Patterns"
      tactic = "TA0007"
      technique = "T1082"
      references = "https://github.com/carlospolop/PEASS-ng, https://book.hacktricks.wiki/en/windows-hardening/windows-local-privilege-escalation/index.html, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022-10-14/new-prestige-ransomware-impacts-organizations-in-ukraine-and-poland/, https://www.logpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/emerging-threats-the-play-report.pdf"
      type = "alert"
      platform = "Windows, EDR"
      data_source = "Microsoft Sysmon, Windows Event Logs"
      severity = "Medium"  // Adjust based on your risk assessment
      priority = "Medium"  // Adjust based on your incident response process

    events:
      $winpeas_execution.metadata.event_type = "PROCESS_LAUNCH"
      and
        (
          $winpeas_execution.src.process.file.full_path = /winPEAS.exe|winPEASany.exe|winPEASany_ofs.exe|winPEASx64.exe|winPEASx64_ofs.exe|winPEASx86.exe|winPEASx86_ofs.exe/ nocase or
          $winpeas_execution.target.process.file.full_path = /\\winPEAS\.exe|\\winPEASany\.exe|\\winPEASany_ofs\.exe|\\winPEASx64\.exe|\\winPEASx64_ofs\.exe|\\winPEASx86\.exe|\\winPEASx86_ofs\.exe/ nocase or
          $winpeas_execution.target.process.command_line = /processinfo|servicesinfo|applicationsinfo|networkinfo|windowscreds|browserinfo|filesinfo|fileanalysis|eventsinfo/ nocase

          or
            (
              $winpeas_execution.target.process.command_line = /raw\.githubusercontent\.com/ nocase and
              $winpeas_execution.target.process.command_line = /carlospolop/ nocase and
              $winpeas_execution.target.process.command_line = /winPEAS\.ps1/ nocase
            )

          or
            (
              $winpeas_execution.principal.process.command_line = / -linpeas$/ nocase or
              $winpeas_execution.target.process.command_line = / -linpeas$/ nocase
            )
        )

      not
        (
          // Exclusion: Microsoft Defender Threat Protection Sensor Updates
          $winpeas_execution.additional.fields["current_directory"] = "C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\\Downloads\\"
        )

      // Capture the hostname where the event occurred
      $winpeas_execution.principal.hostname = $hostname

    match:
      $hostname over 10m

    outcome:
      $risk_score = max(65)
      $event_count = count_distinct($winpeas_execution.metadata.id)
      $principal_process_pid = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.principal.process.pid)
      $principal_process_command_line = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.principal.process.command_line)
      $principal_process_file_sha256 = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.principal.process.file.sha256)
      $principal_process_file_full_path = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.principal.process.file.full_path)
      $principal_process_product_specific_process_id = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.principal.process.product_specific_process_id)
      $principal_process_parent_process_product_specific_process_id = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.principal.process.parent_process.product_specific_process_id)
      $target_process_pid = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.target.process.pid)
      $target_process_command_line = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.target.process.command_line)
      $target_process_file_sha256 = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.target.process.file.sha256)
      $target_process_file_full_path = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.target.process.file.full_path)
      $target_process_product_specific_process_id = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.target.process.product_specific_process_id)
      $principal_user_userid = array_distinct($winpeas_execution.principal.user.userid)

    condition:
      $winpeas_execution
}