File or Directory Deletion Command

[metadata]
creation_date = "2023/07/13"
integration = ["endpoint"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2026/03/24"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
building_block_type = "default"
description = """
This rule identifies the execution of commands that can be used to delete files and directories. Adversaries may delete
files and directories on a host system, such as logs, browser history, or malware.
"""
from = "now-119m"
index = ["logs-endpoint.events.process-*"]
interval = "60m"
language = "eql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "File or Directory Deletion Command"
risk_score = 21
rule_id = "5919988c-29e1-4908-83aa-1f087a838f63"
severity = "low"
tags = [
    "Domain: Endpoint",
    "OS: Windows",
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Defense Evasion",
    "Rule Type: BBR",
    "Data Source: Elastic Defend",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "eql"

query = '''
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and 
(
  ((process.name : "rundll32.exe" or ?process.pe.original_file_name : "RUNDLL32.EXE") and process.args : "*InetCpl.cpl,Clear*") or 
  ((process.name : "reg.exe" or ?process.pe.original_file_name : "reg.exe") and process.args : "delete") or 
  (
    (process.name : "cmd.exe" or ?process.pe.original_file_name : "Cmd.Exe") and
    process.args : ("*rmdir*", "*rm *", "rm", "*del *", "del", "*erase *", "erase") and
    not process.args : (
          "*\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\OneDrive\\*",
          "*\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\DockerDesktop\\*",
          "*\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\Report.*",
          "*\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\*.PackageExtraction"
    )
  ) or
  ((process.name : "powershell.exe" or ?process.pe.original_file_name : "PowerShell.EXE") and
    process.args : ("*rmdir", "rm", "rd", "*Remove-Item*", "del", "*]::Delete(*"))
) and not user.id : "S-1-5-18"
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1070"
name = "Indicator Removal"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1070.004"
name = "File Deletion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/004/"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1112"
name = "Modify Registry"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112/"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1218"
name = "System Binary Proxy Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1218.011"
name = "Rundll32"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/011/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"