Detection rules › Sigma

Sigma rules: 1n

RuleSeverity
Account set with reversible encryption (weakness introduction)high
Activity from Suspicious IP Addressesmedium
Activity Performed by Terminated Usermedium
Application Removed Via Wmic.EXEmedium
Atlassian Confluence CVE-2022-26134high
Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - MacOShigh
Delete Important Scheduled Taskhigh
Delete Volume Shadow Copies Via WMI With PowerShellhigh
Device Installation Blockedmedium
Dllhost.EXE Execution Anomalyhigh
DNS Query To Katz Stealer Domainshigh
ETW Trace Evasion Activityhigh
Exchange Exploitation CVE-2021-28480critical
File Download Via InstallUtil.EXEmedium
Finger.EXE Executionhigh
Firewall Rule Modified In The Windows Firewall Exception Listlow
HybridConnectionManager Service Installationhigh
Important Scheduled Task Deleted/Disabledhigh
Indirect Command Execution By Program Compatibility Wizardlow
Install Root Certificatelow
Invoke-Obfuscation STDIN+ Launcher - Powershellhigh
Microsoft Office DLL Sideloadhigh
Monitoring For Persistence Via BITSmedium
Notepad++ Updater DNS Query to Uncommon Domainsmedium
Password Spray Activityhigh
Potential CVE-2024-3400 Exploitation - Palo Alto GlobalProtect OS Command Injection - File Creationmedium
Potential Linux Amazon SSM Agent Hijackingmedium
PowerShell Web Access Feature Enabled Via DISMhigh
Scheduled Task Executed Uncommon LOLBINmedium
ScreenConnect User Database Modificationmedium
SES Identity Has Been Deletedmedium
Sign-in Failure Due to Conditional Access Requirements Not Methigh
Suspicious Autorun Registry Modified via WMIhigh
Suspicious Kernel Extension Nameshigh
Suspicious Keyboard Layout Loadmedium
Suspicious Mstsc.EXE Execution With Local RDP Filehigh
TacticalRMM Service Installationmedium
Time Travel Debugging Utility Usagehigh
UAC Bypass via Windows Firewall Snap-In Hijackmedium
UAC Bypass With Fake DLLhigh
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) installation (command)medium

Account set with reversible encryption (weakness introduction)

#
Status
experimental
Severity
high
Author
mdecrevoisier
Source
github.com/mdecrevoisier/SIGMA-detection-rules

Detects scenarios where an attacker set an account with reversible encryption to facilitate brutforce or cracking operations.

Known False Positives

  • None

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Persistence

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Account set with reversible encryption (weakness introduction)
description: Detects scenarios where an attacker set an account with reversible encryption to facilitate brutforce or cracking operations.
references:
- https://github.com/mdecrevoisier/EVTX-to-MITRE-Attack/tree/master/TA0003-Persistence/T1098.xxx-Account%20manipulation
- https://www.blackhillsinfosec.com/how-i-cracked-a-128-bit-password/
tags:
- attack.persistence
- attack.t1098
author: mdecrevoisier
status: experimental
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: security
detection:
  selection:
    EventID: 4738
    UserAccountControl: '%%2091' # Store password using reversible encryption - True
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
- None
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
  EventID: 4738
  UserAccountControl: '%%2091'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Activity from Suspicious IP Addresses

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Austin Songer @austinsonger
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects when a Microsoft Cloud App Security reported users were active from an IP address identified as risky by Microsoft Threat Intelligence. These IP addresses are involved in malicious activities, such as Botnet C&C, and may indicate compromised account.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Command & Control

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Activity from Suspicious IP Addresses
id: a3501e8e-af9e-43c6-8cd6-9360bdaae498
status: test
description: |
  Detects when a Microsoft Cloud App Security reported users were active from an IP address identified as risky by Microsoft Threat Intelligence.
  These IP addresses are involved in malicious activities, such as Botnet C&C, and may indicate compromised account.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-cloud-apps/anomaly-detection-policy
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-cloud-apps/policy-template-reference
author: Austin Songer @austinsonger
date: 2021-08-23
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1573
logsource:
    service: threat_detection
    product: m365
detection:
    selection:
        eventSource: SecurityComplianceCenter
        eventName: 'Activity from suspicious IP addresses'
        status: success
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    eventSource: SecurityComplianceCenter
    eventName: 'Activity from suspicious IP addresses'
    status: success

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
eventNameeq
  • Activity from suspicious IP addresses
field:"aws::eventName" kind:eq value:"Activity from suspicious IP addresses"
eventSourceeq
  • SecurityComplianceCenter corpus 14 (sigma 14)
field:"aws::eventSource" kind:eq value:"SecurityComplianceCenter"
statuseq
  • success corpus 21 (sigma 15, splunk 6)
field:"status" kind:eq value:"success"

Activity Performed by Terminated User

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Austin Songer @austinsonger
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects when a Microsoft Cloud App Security reported for users whose account were terminated in Azure AD, but still perform activities in other platforms such as AWS or Salesforce. This is especially relevant for users who use another account to manage resources, since these accounts are often not terminated when a user leaves the company.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
ImpactNo specific technique

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Activity Performed by Terminated User
id: 2e669ed8-742e-4fe5-b3c4-5a59b486c2ee
status: test
description: |
  Detects when a Microsoft Cloud App Security reported for users whose account were terminated in Azure AD, but still perform activities in other platforms such as AWS or Salesforce.
  This is especially relevant for users who use another account to manage resources, since these accounts are often not terminated when a user leaves the company.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-cloud-apps/anomaly-detection-policy
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-cloud-apps/policy-template-reference
author: Austin Songer @austinsonger
date: 2021-08-23
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.impact
logsource:
    service: threat_management
    product: m365
detection:
    selection:
        eventSource: SecurityComplianceCenter
        eventName: 'Activity performed by terminated user'
        status: success
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    eventSource: SecurityComplianceCenter
    eventName: 'Activity performed by terminated user'
    status: success

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
eventNameeq
  • Activity performed by terminated user
field:"aws::eventName" kind:eq value:"Activity performed by terminated user"
eventSourceeq
  • SecurityComplianceCenter corpus 14 (sigma 14)
field:"aws::eventSource" kind:eq value:"SecurityComplianceCenter"
statuseq
  • success corpus 21 (sigma 15, splunk 6)
field:"status" kind:eq value:"success"

Application Removed Via Wmic.EXE

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
frack113
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects the removal or uninstallation of an application via "Wmic.EXE".

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: Application Removed Via Wmic.EXE
id: b53317a0-8acf-4fd1-8de8-a5401e776b96
related:
    - id: 847d5ff3-8a31-4737-a970-aeae8fe21765 # Uninstall Security Products
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects the removal or uninstallation of an application via "Wmic.EXE".
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1047/T1047.md#atomic-test-10---application-uninstall-using-wmic
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-28
modified: 2024-07-02
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1047
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\WMIC.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'call'
            - 'uninstall'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium
simulation:
    - type: atomic-red-team
      name: Application uninstall using WMIC
      technique: T1047
      atomic_guid: c510d25b-1667-467d-8331-a56d3e9bc4ff
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_uninstall_application/info.yml

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

all of selection_*

Stage 1: selection_img

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\WMIC.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe'

Stage 2: selection_cli

selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'call'
        - 'uninstall'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • call corpus 8 (sigma 6, splunk 2)
  • uninstall corpus 2 (sigma 2)
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
Imageends_with
  • \WMIC.exe corpus 62 (sigma 62)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\WMIC.exe"
OriginalFileNameeq
  • wmic.exe corpus 74 (sigma 38, elastic 18, splunk 18)
field:"OriginalFileName" kind:eq value:"wmic.exe"

Atlassian Confluence CVE-2022-26134

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects spawning of suspicious child processes by Atlassian Confluence server which may indicate successful exploitation of CVE-2022-26134

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

PlatformRecord / event type
LinuxEvent ID 1: Process Create

Rule Body

title: Atlassian Confluence CVE-2022-26134
id: 7fb14105-530e-4e2e-8cfb-99f7d8700b66
related:
    - id: 245f92e3-c4da-45f1-9070-bc552e06db11
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects spawning of suspicious child processes by Atlassian Confluence server which may indicate successful exploitation of CVE-2022-26134
references:
    - https://www.volexity.com/blog/2022/06/02/zero-day-exploitation-of-atlassian-confluence/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-06-03
tags:
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1190
    - attack.t1059
    - cve.2022-26134
    - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: linux
detection:
    selection:
        # Monitor suspicious child processes spawned by Confluence
        ParentImage|startswith: '/opt/atlassian/confluence/'
        ParentImage|endswith: '/java'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '/bin/sh'
            - 'bash'
            - 'dash'
            - 'ksh'
            - 'zsh'
            - 'csh'
            - 'fish'
            - 'curl'
            - 'wget'
            - 'python'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    ParentImage|startswith: '/opt/atlassian/confluence/'
    ParentImage|endswith: '/java'
    CommandLine|contains:
        - '/bin/sh'
        - 'bash'
        - 'dash'
        - 'ksh'
        - 'zsh'
        - 'csh'
        - 'fish'
        - 'curl'
        - 'wget'
        - 'python'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • /bin/sh corpus 12 (sigma 12)
  • bash corpus 5 (sigma 5)
  • csh corpus 3 (sigma 3)
  • curl corpus 17 (sigma 14, elastic 2, splunk 1)
  • dash corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • fish corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • ksh corpus 3 (sigma 3)
  • python corpus 5 (sigma 4, elastic 1)
  • wget corpus 10 (sigma 8, elastic 1, splunk 1)
  • zsh corpus 3 (sigma 3)
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
ParentImageends_with
  • /java corpus 3 (sigma 3)
field:"ParentImage" kind:ends_with value:"/java"
ParentImagestarts_with
  • /opt/atlassian/confluence/
field:"ParentImage" kind:starts_with value:"/opt/atlassian/confluence/"

Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - MacOS

#
Status
experimental
Severity
high
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects file creation events linked to the Axios NPM supply chain compromise on macOS devices. Axios is a popular JavaScript HTTP client. On March 30, 2026, malicious versions (1.14.1, 0.30.4) were published to npm, injecting a dependency (plain-crypto-js@4.2.1) that executed a postinstall script as a cross-platform RAT dropper.

Known False Positives

  • Highly unlikely

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Axios NPM Compromise File Creation Indicators - MacOS
id: 2db0458c-05c9-4069-a26f-77becd9c8c13
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects file creation events linked to the Axios NPM supply chain compromise on macOS devices. Axios is a popular JavaScript HTTP client.
    On March 30, 2026, malicious versions (1.14.1, 0.30.4) were published to npm, injecting a dependency (plain-crypto-js@4.2.1) that executed a postinstall script as a cross-platform RAT dropper.
references:
    - https://www.stepsecurity.io/blog/axios-compromised-on-npm-malicious-versions-drop-remote-access-trojan
    - https://www.derp.ca/research/axios-npm-supply-chain-rat/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/zh_hk/research/26/c/axios-npm-package-compromised.html
    - https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/axios-supply-chain-compromise-detections
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/e10b1fa84f1d6481625f741b69892780140d4e0e7769e7491e5f4d894c2e0e09
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2026-04-01
tags:
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.t1195.002
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1105
    - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
    category: file_event
    product: macos
detection:
    selection_curl_download:
        Image|endswith: '/curl'
        TargetFilename: '/Library/Caches/com.apple.act.mond'
    selection_node_shell:
        Image|endswith: '/node'
        TargetFilename: '/tmp/6202033'
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Highly unlikely
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

1 of selection_*

Stage 1: selection_curl_download

selection_curl_download:
    Image|endswith: '/curl'
    TargetFilename: '/Library/Caches/com.apple.act.mond'

Stage 2: selection_node_shell

selection_node_shell:
    Image|endswith: '/node'
    TargetFilename: '/tmp/6202033'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Imageends_with
  • /curl corpus 22 (sigma 22)
  • /node
field:"Image" kind:ends_with
TargetFilenameeq
  • /Library/Caches/com.apple.act.mond
  • /tmp/6202033
field:"TargetFilename" kind:eq

Delete Important Scheduled Task

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects when adversaries stop services or processes by deleting their respective scheduled tasks in order to conduct data destructive activities

Known False Positives

  • Unlikely

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Impact

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: Delete Important Scheduled Task
id: dbc1f800-0fe0-4bc0-9c66-292c2abe3f78
related:
    - id: 9e3cb244-bdb8-4632-8c90-6079c8f4f16d # TaskScheduler EventLog
      type: similar
    - id: 7595ba94-cf3b-4471-aa03-4f6baa9e5fad # Security-Audting Eventlog
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects when adversaries stop services or processes by deleting their respective scheduled tasks in order to conduct data destructive activities
references:
    - Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-09-09
modified: 2026-03-11
tags:
    - attack.impact
    - attack.t1489
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\schtasks.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'schtasks.exe'
    selection_cli_delete:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '/delete'
    selection_cli_task:
        CommandLine|contains:
            # Add more important tasks
            - '\Windows\BitLocker'
            - '\Windows\ExploitGuard'
            - '\Windows\SystemRestore\SR'
            - '\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\'
            - '\Windows\Windows Defender\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsBackup\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsUpdate\'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_schtasks_delete/info.yml

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

all of selection_*

Stage 1: selection_img

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\schtasks.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'schtasks.exe'

Stage 2: selection_cli_delete

selection_cli_delete:
    CommandLine|contains|windash: '/delete'

Stage 3: selection_cli_task

selection_cli_task:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - '\Windows\BitLocker'
        - '\Windows\ExploitGuard'
        - '\Windows\SystemRestore\SR'
        - '\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\'
        - '\Windows\Windows Defender\'
        - '\Windows\WindowsBackup\'
        - '\Windows\WindowsUpdate\'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • -delete
  • /delete corpus 8 (sigma 6, splunk 2)
  • \Windows\BitLocker corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\ExploitGuard corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\SystemRestore\SR corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\ corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\Windows Defender\ corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\WindowsBackup\ corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\WindowsUpdate\ corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • –delete
  • —delete
  • ―delete
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
Imageends_with
  • \schtasks.exe corpus 55 (sigma 55)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\schtasks.exe"
OriginalFileNameeq
  • schtasks.exe corpus 29 (sigma 18, elastic 7, splunk 4)
field:"OriginalFileName" kind:eq value:"schtasks.exe"

Delete Volume Shadow Copies Via WMI With PowerShell

#
Status
stable
Severity
high
Author
frack113
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Shadow Copies deletion using operating systems utilities via PowerShell

Known False Positives

  • Legitimate Administrator deletes Shadow Copies using operating systems utilities for legitimate reason

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Impact

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
PowerShellEvent ID 400

Rule Body

title: Delete Volume Shadow Copies Via WMI With PowerShell
id: 87df9ee1-5416-453a-8a08-e8d4a51e9ce1
status: stable
description: Shadow Copies deletion using operating systems utilities via PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1490/T1490.md
    - https://www.fortinet.com/blog/threat-research/stomping-shadow-copies-a-second-look-into-deletion-methods
author: frack113
date: 2021-06-03
modified: 2023-10-27
tags:
    - attack.impact
    - attack.t1490
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_classic_start
detection:
    selection:
        Data|contains|all:
            - 'Get-WmiObject'
            - 'Win32_ShadowCopy'
        Data|contains:
            - 'Delete()'
            - 'Remove-WmiObject'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate Administrator deletes Shadow Copies using operating systems utilities for legitimate reason
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    Data|contains|all:
        - 'Get-WmiObject'
        - 'Win32_ShadowCopy'
    Data|contains:
        - 'Delete()'
        - 'Remove-WmiObject'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Datamatch
  • Delete()
  • Get-WmiObject
  • Remove-WmiObject
  • Win32_ShadowCopy
field:"Data" kind:match

Device Installation Blocked

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
frack113
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects an installation of a device that is forbidden by the system policy

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Initial Access

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Device Installation Blocked
id: c9eb55c3-b468-40ab-9089-db2862e42137
status: test
description: Detects an installation of a device that is forbidden by the system policy
references:
    - https://github.com/Yamato-Security/EnableWindowsLogSettings/blob/7f6d755d45ac7cc9fc35b0cbf498e6aa4ef19def/ConfiguringSecurityLogAuditPolicies.md
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-10/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-6423
author: frack113
date: 2022-10-14
tags:
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.t1200
logsource:
    service: security
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 6423
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    EventID: 6423

Dllhost.EXE Execution Anomaly

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects a "dllhost" process spawning with no commandline arguments which is very rare to happen and could indicate process injection activity or malware mimicking similar system processes.

Known False Positives

  • Unlikely

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Privilege Escalation
Stealth

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Dllhost.EXE Execution Anomaly
id: e7888eb1-13b0-4616-bd99-4bc0c2b054b9
status: test
description: Detects a "dllhost" process spawning with no commandline arguments which is very rare to happen and could indicate process injection activity or malware mimicking similar system processes.
references:
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/child-processes/
    - https://nasbench.medium.com/what-is-the-dllhost-exe-process-actually-running-ef9fe4c19c08
    - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/static-assets/documents/malware-analysis-reports/goofy-guineapig/NCSC-MAR-Goofy-Guineapig.pdf
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-06-27
modified: 2023-05-15
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1055
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\dllhost.exe'
        CommandLine:
            - 'dllhost.exe'
            - 'dllhost'
    filter_main_null:
        CommandLine: null
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    Image|endswith: '\dllhost.exe'
    CommandLine:
        - 'dllhost.exe'
        - 'dllhost'

Stage 2: not filter_main_null

filter_main_null:
    CommandLine: null

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLineeq
  • dllhost
  • dllhost.exe
field:"CommandLine" kind:eq
Imageends_with
  • \dllhost.exe corpus 11 (sigma 11)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\dllhost.exe"

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

FieldKindExcluded valuesSearch
CommandLineis_null(no value, null check)excludes:CommandLine

DNS Query To Katz Stealer Domains

#
Status
experimental
Severity
high
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects DNS queries to domains associated with Katz Stealer malware. Katz Stealer is a malware variant that is known to be used for stealing sensitive information from compromised systems. In Enterprise environments, DNS queries to these domains may indicate potential malicious activity or compromise.

Known False Positives

  • Unlikely

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Command & Control

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 22: DNSEvent (DNS query)

Rule Body

title: DNS Query To Katz Stealer Domains
id: 9c3d6e32-f4c8-4d73-8b8f-95c3b383a13c
related:
    - id: 6b0c762f-0e1b-435f-a829-5943b08fe36a
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects DNS queries to domains associated with Katz Stealer malware.
    Katz Stealer is a malware variant that is known to be used for stealing sensitive information from compromised systems.
    In Enterprise environments, DNS queries to these domains may indicate potential malicious activity or compromise.
references:
    - Internal Research
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-05-22
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1071.004
    - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: dns_query
detection:
    selection:
        QueryName|contains:
            - 'katz-panel.com'
            - 'katz-stealer.com'
            - 'katzstealer.com'
            - 'twist2katz.com'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    QueryName|contains:
        - 'katz-panel.com'
        - 'katz-stealer.com'
        - 'katzstealer.com'
        - 'twist2katz.com'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
QueryNamematch
  • katz-panel.com
  • katz-stealer.com
  • katzstealer.com
  • twist2katz.com
field:"QueryName" kind:match

ETW Trace Evasion Activity

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
@neu5ron, Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects command line activity that tries to clear or disable any ETW trace log which could be a sign of logging evasion.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Stealth
Defense Impairment

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: ETW Trace Evasion Activity
id: a238b5d0-ce2d-4414-a676-7a531b3d13d6
status: test
description: |
    Detects command line activity that tries to clear or disable any ETW trace log which could be a sign of logging evasion.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wevtutil
    - https://abuse.io/lockergoga.txt
    - https://medium.com/palantir/tampering-with-windows-event-tracing-background-offense-and-defense-4be7ac62ac63
author: '@neu5ron, Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community'
date: 2019-03-22
modified: 2022-06-28
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1070
    - attack.t1685
    - car.2016-04-002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_clear_1:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'cl'
            - '/Trace'
    selection_clear_2:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'clear-log'
            - '/Trace'
    selection_disable_1:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'sl'
            - '/e:false'
    selection_disable_2:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'set-log'
            - '/e:false'
    selection_disable_3:   # ETW provider removal from a trace session
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'logman'
            - 'update'
            - 'trace'
            - '--p'
            - '-ets'
    selection_pwsh_remove:   # Autologger provider removal
        CommandLine|contains: 'Remove-EtwTraceProvider'
    selection_pwsh_set:   # Provider “Enable” property modification
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'Set-EtwTraceProvider'
            - '0x11'
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

1 of selection_*

Stage 1: selection_clear_1

selection_clear_1:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'cl'
        - '/Trace'

Stage 2: selection_clear_2

selection_clear_2:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'clear-log'
        - '/Trace'

Stage 3: selection_disable_1

selection_disable_1:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'sl'
        - '/e:false'

Stage 4: selection_disable_2

selection_disable_2:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'set-log'
        - '/e:false'

Stage 5: selection_disable_3

selection_disable_3:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'logman'
        - 'update'
        - 'trace'
        - '--p'
        - '-ets'

Stage 6: selection_pwsh_remove

selection_pwsh_remove:
    CommandLine|contains: 'Remove-EtwTraceProvider'

Stage 7: selection_pwsh_set

selection_pwsh_set:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'Set-EtwTraceProvider'
        - '0x11'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • --p
  • -ets
  • /Trace
  • /e:false corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • 0x11
  • Remove-EtwTraceProvider
  • Set-EtwTraceProvider
  • cl corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • clear-log corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • logman
  • set-log corpus 2 (sigma 1, splunk 1)
  • sl corpus 2 (sigma 1, splunk 1)
  • trace corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • update
field:"CommandLine" kind:match

Exchange Exploitation CVE-2021-28480

#
Status
test
Severity
critical
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects successful exploitation of Exchange vulnerability as reported in CVE-2021-28480

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Initial Access

Rule Body

title: Exchange Exploitation CVE-2021-28480
id: a2a9d722-0acb-4096-bccc-daaf91a5037b
status: test
description: Detects successful exploitation of Exchange vulnerability as reported in CVE-2021-28480
references:
    - https://twitter.com/GossiTheDog/status/1392965209132871683?s=20
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-05-14
modified: 2023-01-02
tags:
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.t1190
    - cve.2021-28480
    - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
    category: webserver
detection:
    selection:
        cs-uri-query|contains: '/owa/calendar/a'
        cs-method: 'POST'
    filter_main_status:
        sc-status: 503
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: critical

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection and not 1 of filter_*

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    cs-uri-query|contains: '/owa/calendar/a'
    cs-method: 'POST'

Stage 2: not filter_main_status

filter_main_status:
    sc-status: 503

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

FieldKindExcluded valuesSearch
sc-statuseq503excludes:sc-status field:"sc-status" value:"503"

File Download Via InstallUtil.EXE

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects use of .NET InstallUtil.exe in order to download arbitrary files. The files will be written to "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE"

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: File Download Via InstallUtil.EXE
id: 75edd216-1939-4c73-8d61-7f3a0d85b5cc
status: test
description: |
    Detects use of .NET InstallUtil.exe in order to download arbitrary files. The files will be written to "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE\"
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/pull/239
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-19
modified: 2023-11-09
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\InstallUtil.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'InstallUtil.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'ftp://'
            - 'http://'
            - 'https://'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

all of selection_*

Stage 1: selection_img

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\InstallUtil.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'InstallUtil.exe'

Stage 2: selection_cli

selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - 'ftp://'
        - 'http://'
        - 'https://'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • ftp:// corpus 12 (sigma 11, elastic 1)
  • http:// corpus 20 (sigma 18, elastic 1, splunk 1)
  • https:// corpus 20 (sigma 18, elastic 1, splunk 1)
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
Imageends_with
  • \InstallUtil.exe corpus 8 (sigma 8)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\InstallUtil.exe"
OriginalFileNameeq
  • InstallUtil.exe corpus 19 (elastic 9, sigma 6, splunk 4)
field:"OriginalFileName" kind:eq value:"InstallUtil.exe"

Finger.EXE Execution

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), omkar72, oscd.community
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects execution of the "finger.exe" utility. Finger.EXE or "TCPIP Finger Command" is an old utility that is still present on modern Windows installation. It Displays information about users on a specified remote computer (typically a UNIX computer) that is running the finger service or daemon. Due to the old nature of this utility and the rareness of machines having the finger service. Any execution of "finger.exe" can be considered "suspicious" and worth investigating.

Known False Positives

  • Admin activity (unclear what they do nowadays with finger.exe)

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Command & Control

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: Finger.EXE Execution
id: af491bca-e752-4b44-9c86-df5680533dbc
related:
    - id: c082c2b0-525b-4dbc-9a26-a57dc4692074
      type: similar
    - id: 2fdaf50b-9fd5-449f-ba69-f17248119af6
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects execution of the "finger.exe" utility.
    Finger.EXE or "TCPIP Finger Command" is an old utility that is still present on modern Windows installation. It Displays information about users on a specified remote computer (typically a UNIX computer) that is running the finger service or daemon.
    Due to the old nature of this utility and the rareness of machines having the finger service. Any execution of "finger.exe" can be considered "suspicious" and worth investigating.
references:
    - https://twitter.com/bigmacjpg/status/1349727699863011328?s=12
    - https://app.any.run/tasks/40115012-a919-4208-bfed-41e82cb3dadf/
    - http://hyp3rlinx.altervista.org/advisories/Windows_TCPIP_Finger_Command_C2_Channel_and_Bypassing_Security_Software.txt
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), omkar72, oscd.community
date: 2021-02-24
modified: 2024-06-27
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1105
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - OriginalFileName: 'finger.exe'
        - Image|endswith: '\finger.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Admin activity (unclear what they do nowadays with finger.exe)
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_finger_execution/info.yml

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    - OriginalFileName: 'finger.exe'
    - Image|endswith: '\finger.exe'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Imageends_with
  • \finger.exe corpus 8 (sigma 8)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\finger.exe"
OriginalFileNameeq
  • finger.exe corpus 2 (sigma 2)
field:"OriginalFileName" kind:eq value:"finger.exe"

Firewall Rule Modified In The Windows Firewall Exception List

#
Status
test
Severity
low
Author
frack113
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects when a rule has been modified in the Windows firewall exception list

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Firewall Rule Modified In The Windows Firewall Exception List
id: 5570c4d9-8fdd-4622-965b-403a5a101aa0
status: test
description: Detects when a rule has been modified in the Windows firewall exception list
references:
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2008-r2-and-2008/dd364427(v=ws.10)
author: frack113
date: 2022-02-19
modified: 2024-01-22
tags:
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1686.003
    - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: firewall-as
detection:
    selection:
        EventID:
            - 2005 # A rule has been modified in the Windows Defender Firewall exception list (Windows 10)
            - 2073 # A rule has been modified in the Windows Defender Firewall exception list. (Windows 11)
    filter_optional_teams:
        ApplicationPath|endswith: '\AppData\local\microsoft\teams\current\teams.exe'
    filter_optional_keybase:
        ApplicationPath|endswith: '\AppData\Local\Keybase\keybase.exe'
    filter_optional_messenger:
        ApplicationPath|endswith: '\AppData\Local\Programs\Messenger\Messenger.exe'
    filter_optional_opera:
        ApplicationPath|contains|all:
            - ':\Users\'
            - '\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\'
            - '\opera.exe'
    filter_optional_brave:
        ApplicationPath|contains|all:
            - ':\Users\'
            - '\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
level: low

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    EventID:
        - 2005
        - 2073

Stage 2: not filter_optional_*

filter_optional_teams:
    ApplicationPath|endswith: '\AppData\local\microsoft\teams\current\teams.exe'
filter_optional_keybase:
    ApplicationPath|endswith: '\AppData\Local\Keybase\keybase.exe'
filter_optional_messenger:
    ApplicationPath|endswith: '\AppData\Local\Programs\Messenger\Messenger.exe'
filter_optional_opera:
    ApplicationPath|contains|all:
        - ':\Users\'
        - '\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\'
        - '\opera.exe'
filter_optional_brave:
    ApplicationPath|contains|all:
        - ':\Users\'
        - '\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe'

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

FieldKindExcluded valuesSearch
ApplicationPathmatch:\Users\excludes:ApplicationPath field:"ApplicationPath" value:":\Users\"
ApplicationPathmatch\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exeexcludes:ApplicationPath field:"ApplicationPath" value:"\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe"
ApplicationPathmatch\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\excludes:ApplicationPath field:"ApplicationPath" value:"\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\"
ApplicationPathmatch\opera.exeexcludes:ApplicationPath field:"ApplicationPath" value:"\opera.exe"
ApplicationPathends_with\AppData\Local\Keybase\keybase.exeexcludes:ApplicationPath field:"ApplicationPath" value:"\AppData\Local\Keybase\keybase.exe"
ApplicationPathends_with\AppData\Local\Programs\Messenger\Messenger.exeexcludes:ApplicationPath field:"ApplicationPath" value:"\AppData\Local\Programs\Messenger\Messenger.exe"
ApplicationPathends_with\AppData\local\microsoft\teams\current\teams.exeexcludes:ApplicationPath field:"ApplicationPath" value:"\AppData\local\microsoft\teams\current\teams.exe"

HybridConnectionManager Service Installation

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Rule to detect the Hybrid Connection Manager service installation.

Known False Positives

  • Legitimate use of Hybrid Connection Manager via Azure function apps.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Persistence

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: HybridConnectionManager Service Installation
id: 0ee4d8a5-4e67-4faf-acfa-62a78457d1f2
status: test
description: Rule to detect the Hybrid Connection Manager service installation.
references:
    - https://twitter.com/Cyb3rWard0g/status/1381642789369286662
author: Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research)
date: 2021-04-12
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1554
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
    definition: The 'System Security Extension' audit subcategory need to be enabled to log the EID 4697
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 4697
        ServiceName: HybridConnectionManager
        ServiceFileName|contains: HybridConnectionManager
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of Hybrid Connection Manager via Azure function apps.
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    EventID: 4697
    ServiceName: HybridConnectionManager
    ServiceFileName|contains: HybridConnectionManager

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Important Scheduled Task Deleted/Disabled

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects when adversaries stop services or processes by deleting or disabling their respective scheduled tasks in order to conduct data destructive activities

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Important Scheduled Task Deleted/Disabled
id: 7595ba94-cf3b-4471-aa03-4f6baa9e5fad
related:
    - id: dbc1f800-0fe0-4bc0-9c66-292c2abe3f78 # ProcCreation schtasks delete
      type: similar
    - id: 9ac94dc8-9042-493c-ba45-3b5e7c86b980 # ProcCreation schtasks disable
      type: similar
    - id: 9e3cb244-bdb8-4632-8c90-6079c8f4f16d # TaskScheduler EventLog
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects when adversaries stop services or processes by deleting or disabling their respective scheduled tasks in order to conduct data destructive activities
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-10/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4699
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-10/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4701
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-12-05
modified: 2023-03-13
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1053.005
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
    definition: 'The Advanced Audit Policy setting Object Access > Audit Other Object Access Events has to be configured to allow this detection. We also recommend extracting the Command field from the embedded XML in the event data.'
detection:
    selection:
        EventID:
            - 4699 # Task Deleted Event
            - 4701 # Task Disabled Event
        TaskName|contains:
            # Add more important tasks
            - '\Windows\SystemRestore\SR'
            - '\Windows\Windows Defender\'
            - '\Windows\BitLocker'
            - '\Windows\WindowsBackup\'
            - '\Windows\WindowsUpdate\'
            - '\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\Schedule'
            - '\Windows\ExploitGuard'
    filter_main_defender_update:
        EventID: 4699
        SubjectUserName|endswith: '$'  # False positives during upgrades of Defender, where its tasks get removed and added
        TaskName|contains: '\Windows\Windows Defender\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_security_susp_scheduled_task_delete_or_disable/info.yml
simulation:
    - type: atomic-red-team
      name: Windows - Disable the SR scheduled task
      technique: T1490
      atomic_guid: 1c68c68d-83a4-4981-974e-8993055fa034

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    EventID:
        - 4699
        - 4701
    TaskName|contains:
        - '\Windows\SystemRestore\SR'
        - '\Windows\Windows Defender\'
        - '\Windows\BitLocker'
        - '\Windows\WindowsBackup\'
        - '\Windows\WindowsUpdate\'
        - '\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\Schedule'
        - '\Windows\ExploitGuard'

Stage 2: not filter_main_defender_update

filter_main_defender_update:
    EventID: 4699
    SubjectUserName|endswith: '$'
    TaskName|contains: '\Windows\Windows Defender\'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
TaskNamematch
  • \Windows\BitLocker corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\ExploitGuard corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\SystemRestore\SR corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\UpdateOrchestrator\Schedule
  • \Windows\Windows Defender\ corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\WindowsBackup\ corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \Windows\WindowsUpdate\ corpus 2 (sigma 2)
field:"TaskName" kind:match

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

FieldKindExcluded valuesSearch
SubjectUserNameends_with$excludes:SubjectUserName field:"SubjectUserName" value:"$"
TaskNamematch\Windows\Windows Defender\excludes:TaskName field:"TaskName" value:"\Windows\Windows Defender\"

Indirect Command Execution By Program Compatibility Wizard

#
Status
test
Severity
low
Author
A. Sungurov , oscd.community
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detect indirect command execution via Program Compatibility Assistant pcwrun.exe

Known False Positives

  • Need to use extra processing with 'unique_count' / 'filter' to focus on outliers as opposed to commonly seen artifacts
  • Legit usage of scripts

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Indirect Command Execution By Program Compatibility Wizard
id: b97cd4b1-30b8-4a9d-bd72-6293928d52bc
status: test
description: Detect indirect command execution via Program Compatibility Assistant pcwrun.exe
references:
    - https://twitter.com/pabraeken/status/991335019833708544
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Pcwrun/
author: A. Sungurov , oscd.community
date: 2020-10-12
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
    - attack.execution
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\pcwrun.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Need to use extra processing with 'unique_count' / 'filter' to focus on outliers as opposed to commonly seen artifacts
    - Legit usage of scripts
level: low

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    ParentImage|endswith: '\pcwrun.exe'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Install Root Certificate

#
Status
test
Severity
low
Author
Ömer Günal, oscd.community
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects installation of new certificate on the system which attackers may use to avoid warnings when connecting to controlled web servers or C2s

Known False Positives

  • Legitimate administration activities

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

PlatformRecord / event type
LinuxEvent ID 1: Process Create

Rule Body

title: Install Root Certificate
id: 78a80655-a51e-4669-bc6b-e9d206a462ee
status: test
description: Detects installation of new certificate on the system which attackers may use to avoid warnings when connecting to controlled web servers or C2s
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1553.004/T1553.004.md
author: Ömer Günal, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-05
modified: 2022-07-07
tags:
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1553.004
logsource:
    product: linux
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith:
            - '/update-ca-certificates'
            - '/update-ca-trust'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administration activities
level: low

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    Image|endswith:
        - '/update-ca-certificates'
        - '/update-ca-trust'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Imageends_with
  • /update-ca-certificates
  • /update-ca-trust
field:"Image" kind:ends_with

Invoke-Obfuscation STDIN+ Launcher - Powershell

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects Obfuscated use of stdin to execute PowerShell

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Invoke-Obfuscation STDIN+ Launcher - Powershell
id: 779c8c12-0eb1-11eb-adc1-0242ac120002
status: test
description: Detects Obfuscated use of stdin to execute PowerShell
references:
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009  # (Task 25)
author: Jonathan Cheong, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-15
modified: 2024-04-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_4104:
        ScriptBlockText|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r).+powershell.+(?:\$?\{?input\}?|noexit).+"'
    condition: selection_4104
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection_4104

Stage 1: selection_4104

selection_4104:
    ScriptBlockText|re: 'cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r).+powershell.+(?:\$?\{?input\}?|noexit).+"'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
ScriptBlockTextregex_match
  • cmd.{0,5}(?:/c|/r).+powershell.+(?:$?{?input}?|noexit).+"
field:"ScriptBlockText" kind:regex_match

Microsoft Office DLL Sideload

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema (project and research)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects DLL sideloading of DLLs that are part of Microsoft Office from non standard location

Known False Positives

  • Unlikely

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 7: Image loaded

Rule Body

title: Microsoft Office DLL Sideload
id: 829a3bdf-34da-4051-9cf4-8ed221a8ae4f
status: test
description: Detects DLL sideloading of DLLs that are part of Microsoft Office from non standard location
references:
    - https://hijacklibs.net/ # For list of DLLs that could be sideloaded (search for dlls mentioned here in there)
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema (project and research)
date: 2022-08-17
modified: 2023-03-15
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\outllib.dll'
    filter:
        ImageLoaded|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\OFFICE'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Root\OFFICE'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Root\OFFICE'
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection and not filter

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: '\outllib.dll'

Stage 2: not filter

filter:
    ImageLoaded|startswith:
        - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE'
        - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\OFFICE'
        - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Root\OFFICE'
        - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Root\OFFICE'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

FieldKindExcluded valuesSearch
ImageLoadedstarts_withC:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\OFFICEexcludes:ImageLoaded field:"ImageLoaded" value:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\OFFICE"
ImageLoadedstarts_withC:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Root\OFFICEexcludes:ImageLoaded field:"ImageLoaded" value:"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Root\OFFICE"
ImageLoadedstarts_withC:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICEexcludes:ImageLoaded field:"ImageLoaded" value:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE"
ImageLoadedstarts_withC:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Root\OFFICEexcludes:ImageLoaded field:"ImageLoaded" value:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Root\OFFICE"

Monitoring For Persistence Via BITS

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Sreeman
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

BITS will allow you to schedule a command to execute after a successful download to notify you that the job is finished. When the job runs on the system the command specified in the BITS job will be executed. This can be abused by actors to create a backdoor within the system and for persistence. It will be chained in a BITS job to schedule the download of malware/additional binaries and execute the program after being downloaded.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Execution
Persistence
Stealth

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: Monitoring For Persistence Via BITS
id: b9cbbc17-d00d-4e3d-a827-b06d03d2380d
status: test
description: |
    BITS will allow you to schedule a command to execute after a successful download to notify you that the job is finished.
    When the job runs on the system the command specified in the BITS job will be executed.
    This can be abused by actors to create a backdoor within the system and for persistence.
    It will be chained in a BITS job to schedule the download of malware/additional binaries and execute the program after being downloaded.
references:
    - https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/10/kegtap-and-singlemalt-with-a-ransomware-chaser.html
    - http://0xthem.blogspot.com/2014/03/t-emporal-persistence-with-and-schtasks.html
    - https://isc.sans.edu/diary/Wipe+the+drive+Stealthy+Malware+Persistence+Mechanism+-+Part+1/15394
author: Sreeman
date: 2020-10-29
modified: 2024-01-25
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1197
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\bitsadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'bitsadmin.exe'
    selection_cli_notify_1:
        CommandLine|contains: '/SetNotifyCmdLine'
    selection_cli_notify_2:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '%COMSPEC%'
            - 'cmd.exe'
            - 'regsvr32.exe'
    selection_cli_add_1:
        CommandLine|contains: '/Addfile'
    selection_cli_add_2:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'http:'
            - 'https:'
            - 'ftp:'
            - 'ftps:'
    condition: selection_img and (all of selection_cli_notify_* or all of selection_cli_add_*)
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection_img and (all of selection_cli_notify_* or all of selection_cli_add_*)

Stage 1: selection_img

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\bitsadmin.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'bitsadmin.exe'

Stage 2: selection_cli_notify_1

selection_cli_notify_1:
    CommandLine|contains: '/SetNotifyCmdLine'

Stage 3: selection_cli_notify_2

selection_cli_notify_2:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - '%COMSPEC%'
        - 'cmd.exe'
        - 'regsvr32.exe'

Stage 4: selection_cli_add_1

selection_cli_add_1:
    CommandLine|contains: '/Addfile'

Stage 5: selection_cli_add_2

selection_cli_add_2:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - 'http:'
        - 'https:'
        - 'ftp:'
        - 'ftps:'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • %COMSPEC% corpus 6 (sigma 5, splunk 1)
  • /Addfile
  • /SetNotifyCmdLine
  • cmd.exe corpus 3 (sigma 3)
  • ftp: corpus 2 (sigma 1, elastic 1)
  • ftps: corpus 2 (sigma 1, elastic 1)
  • http: corpus 5 (elastic 3, sigma 2)
  • https: corpus 5 (elastic 3, sigma 2)
  • regsvr32.exe corpus 3 (sigma 3)
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
Imageends_with
  • \bitsadmin.exe corpus 29 (sigma 29)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\bitsadmin.exe"
OriginalFileNameeq
  • bitsadmin.exe corpus 19 (sigma 9, elastic 8, splunk 2)
field:"OriginalFileName" kind:eq value:"bitsadmin.exe"

Notepad++ Updater DNS Query to Uncommon Domains

#
Status
experimental
Severity
medium
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects when the Notepad++ updater (gup.exe) makes DNS queries to domains that are not part of the known legitimate update infrastructure. This could indicate potential exploitation of the updater mechanism or suspicious network activity that warrants further investigation.

Known False Positives

  • Some legitimate network misconfigurations or proxy issues causing unexpected DNS queries.
  • Other legitimate query to official domains not listed in the filter, needing tuning.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 22: DNSEvent (DNS query)

Rule Body

title: Notepad++ Updater DNS Query to Uncommon Domains
id: 2074e137-1b73-4e2d-88ba-5a3407dbdce0
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects when the Notepad++ updater (gup.exe) makes DNS queries to domains that are not part of the known legitimate update infrastructure.
    This could indicate potential exploitation of the updater mechanism or suspicious network activity that warrants further investigation.
references:
    - https://notepad-plus-plus.org/news/v889-released/
    - https://www.heise.de/en/news/Notepad-updater-installed-malware-11109726.html
    - https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/tr-chrysalis-backdoor-dive-into-lotus-blossoms-toolkit/
    - https://www.validin.com/blog/exploring_notepad_plus_plus_network_indicators/
    - https://securelist.com/notepad-supply-chain-attack/118708/
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2026-02-02
modified: 2026-03-16
tags:
    - attack.collection
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1195.002
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.t1557
logsource:
    category: dns_query
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\gup.exe'
    filter_main_notepad_legit_domain:
        QueryName: 'notepad-plus-plus.org'
    filter_optional_sourceforge_legit_domain:
        QueryName|endswith: '.sourceforge.net'
    filter_optional_github_legit_domain:
        - QueryName|endswith: '.githubusercontent.com'
        - QueryName: 'github.com'
    filter_optional_google_storage_legit_domain:
        QueryName|endswith: '.googleapis.com'
    filter_optional_uncommon_domains:
        QueryName|endswith:
            - '.azurewebsites.net'
            - 'block.opendns.com'
            - 'gateway.zscalerthree.net'
    # Add other known legitimate domains if any
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Some legitimate network misconfigurations or proxy issues causing unexpected DNS queries.
    - Other legitimate query to official domains not listed in the filter, needing tuning.
level: medium # can be upgraded to high after tuning with known legitimate DNS queries

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    Image|endswith: '\gup.exe'

Stage 2: not filter_main_notepad_legit_domain

filter_main_notepad_legit_domain:
    QueryName: 'notepad-plus-plus.org'

Stage 3: not filter_optional_*

filter_optional_sourceforge_legit_domain:
    QueryName|endswith: '.sourceforge.net'
filter_optional_github_legit_domain:
    - QueryName|endswith: '.githubusercontent.com'
    - QueryName: 'github.com'
filter_optional_google_storage_legit_domain:
    QueryName|endswith: '.googleapis.com'
filter_optional_uncommon_domains:
    QueryName|endswith:
        - '.azurewebsites.net'
        - 'block.opendns.com'
        - 'gateway.zscalerthree.net'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Imageends_with
  • \gup.exe corpus 5 (sigma 5)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\gup.exe"

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

Password Spray Activity

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Mark Morowczynski '@markmorow', Gloria Lee, '@gleeiamglo'
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Indicates that a password spray attack has been successfully performed.

Known False Positives

  • We recommend investigating the sessions flagged by this detection in the context of other sign-ins from the user.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Credential Access

Rule Body

title: Password Spray Activity
id: 28ecba0a-c743-4690-ad29-9a8f6f25a6f9
status: test
description: Indicates that a password spray attack has been successfully performed.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/id-protection/concept-identity-protection-risks#password-spray
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/architecture/security-operations-user-accounts#unusual-sign-ins
author: Mark Morowczynski '@markmorow', Gloria Lee, '@gleeiamglo'
date: 2023-09-03
tags:
    - attack.t1110
    - attack.credential-access
logsource:
    product: azure
    service: riskdetection
detection:
    selection:
        riskEventType: 'passwordSpray'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - We recommend investigating the sessions flagged by this detection in the context of other sign-ins from the user.
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    riskEventType: 'passwordSpray'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Potential CVE-2024-3400 Exploitation - Palo Alto GlobalProtect OS Command Injection - File Creation

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Andreas Braathen (mnemonic.io)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects suspicious file creations in the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS' parent telemetry folder, which are processed by the vulnerable 'dt_curl' script if device telemetry is enabled. As said script overrides the shell-subprocess restriction, arbitrary command execution may occur by carefully crafting filenames that are escaped through this function.

Known False Positives

  • The PAN-OS device telemetry function does not enforce a standard filename convention, but observations are unlikely.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
ExecutionNo specific technique

Rule Body

title: Potential CVE-2024-3400 Exploitation - Palo Alto GlobalProtect OS Command Injection - File Creation
id: bcd95697-e3e7-4c6f-8584-8e3503e6929f
status: test
description: |
    Detects suspicious file creations in the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS' parent telemetry folder, which are processed by the vulnerable 'dt_curl' script if device telemetry is enabled.
    As said script overrides the shell-subprocess restriction, arbitrary command execution may occur by carefully crafting filenames that are escaped through this function.
references:
    - https://labs.watchtowr.com/palo-alto-putting-the-protecc-in-globalprotect-cve-2024-3400/
    - https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-3400
author: Andreas Braathen (mnemonic.io)
date: 2024-04-25
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - cve.2024-3400
    - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
    product: paloalto
    service: globalprotect
    category: file_event
    definition: 'Requirements: file creation events need to be ingested from the Palo Alto GlobalProtect appliance'
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|contains:
            - '{IFS}'
            - 'base64'
            - 'bash'
            - 'curl'
            - 'http'
        TargetFilename|startswith: '/opt/panlogs/tmp/device_telemetry/'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - The PAN-OS device telemetry function does not enforce a standard filename convention, but observations are unlikely.
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    TargetFilename|contains:
        - '{IFS}'
        - 'base64'
        - 'bash'
        - 'curl'
        - 'http'
    TargetFilename|startswith: '/opt/panlogs/tmp/device_telemetry/'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Potential Linux Amazon SSM Agent Hijacking

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Muhammad Faisal
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects potential Amazon SSM agent hijack attempts as outlined in the Mitiga research report.

Known False Positives

  • Legitimate activity of system administrators

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

PlatformRecord / event type
LinuxEvent ID 1: Process Create

Rule Body

title: Potential Linux Amazon SSM Agent Hijacking
id: f9b3edc5-3322-4fc7-8aa3-245d646cc4b7
status: test
description: Detects potential Amazon SSM agent hijack attempts as outlined in the Mitiga research report.
references:
    - https://www.mitiga.io/blog/mitiga-security-advisory-abusing-the-ssm-agent-as-a-remote-access-trojan
    - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/amazons-aws-ssm-agent-can-be-used-as-post-exploitation-rat-malware/
    - https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/08/02/aws-instances-attackers-access/
author: Muhammad Faisal
date: 2023-08-03
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1219.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: linux
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '/amazon-ssm-agent'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '-register '
            - '-code '
            - '-id '
            - '-region '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate activity of system administrators
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    Image|endswith: '/amazon-ssm-agent'
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - '-register '
        - '-code '
        - '-id '
        - '-region '

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • -code corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • -id corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • -region corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • -register corpus 2 (sigma 2)
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
Imageends_with
  • /amazon-ssm-agent
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"/amazon-ssm-agent"

PowerShell Web Access Feature Enabled Via DISM

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Michael Haag
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects the use of DISM to enable the PowerShell Web Access feature, which could be used for remote access and potential abuse

Known False Positives

  • Legitimate PowerShell Web Access installations by administrators

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: PowerShell Web Access Feature Enabled Via DISM
id: 7e8f2d3b-9c1a-4f67-b9e8-8d9006e0e51f
status: test
description: Detects the use of DISM to enable the PowerShell Web Access feature, which could be used for remote access and potential abuse
references:
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/dism/enable-windowsoptionalfeature
    - https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa24-241a
    - https://gist.github.com/MHaggis/7e67b659af9148fa593cf2402edebb41
author: Michael Haag
date: 2024-09-03
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\dism.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'DISM.EXE'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'WindowsPowerShellWebAccess'
            - '/online'
            - '/enable-feature'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate PowerShell Web Access installations by administrators
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

all of selection_*

Stage 1: selection_img

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\dism.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'DISM.EXE'

Stage 2: selection_cli

selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'WindowsPowerShellWebAccess'
        - '/online'
        - '/enable-feature'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • /enable-feature corpus 2 (sigma 1, splunk 1)
  • /online corpus 4 (sigma 2, splunk 2)
  • WindowsPowerShellWebAccess corpus 2 (sigma 1, splunk 1)
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
Imageends_with
  • \dism.exe corpus 6 (sigma 6)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\dism.exe"
OriginalFileNameeq
  • DISM.EXE corpus 2 (sigma 1, elastic 1)
field:"OriginalFileName" kind:eq value:"DISM.EXE"

Scheduled Task Executed Uncommon LOLBIN

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects the execution of Scheduled Tasks where the program being run is located in a suspicious location or where it is an unusual program to be run from a Scheduled Task

Known False Positives

  • False positives may occur with some of the selected binaries if you have tasks using them (which could be very common in your environment). Exclude all the specific trusted tasks before using this rule

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Scheduled Task Executed Uncommon LOLBIN
id: f0767f15-0fb3-44b9-851e-e8d9a6d0005d
status: test
description: Detects the execution of Scheduled Tasks where the program being run is located in a suspicious location or where it is an unusual program to be run from a Scheduled Task
references:
    - Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-12-05
modified: 2023-02-07
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1053.005
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: taskscheduler
    definition: 'Requirements: The "Microsoft-Windows-TaskScheduler/Operational" is disabled by default and needs to be enabled in order for this detection to trigger'
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 129 # Created Task Process
        Path|endswith:
            - '\calc.exe'
            - '\cscript.exe'
            - '\mshta.exe'
            - '\mspaint.exe'
            - '\notepad.exe'
            - '\regsvr32.exe'
            # - '\rundll32.exe'
            - '\wscript.exe'
    # filter_system:
    #     Path|endswith: '\rundll32.exe'
    #     TaskName|startswith: '\Microsoft\Windows\'
    # condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - False positives may occur with some of the selected binaries if you have tasks using them (which could be very common in your environment). Exclude all the specific trusted tasks before using this rule
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    EventID: 129
    Path|endswith:
        - '\calc.exe'
        - '\cscript.exe'
        - '\mshta.exe'
        - '\mspaint.exe'
        - '\notepad.exe'
        - '\regsvr32.exe'
        - '\wscript.exe'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Pathends_with
  • \calc.exe
  • \cscript.exe
  • \mshta.exe
  • \mspaint.exe
  • \notepad.exe
  • \regsvr32.exe
  • \wscript.exe
field:"Path" kind:ends_with

ScreenConnect User Database Modification

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Matt Anderson, Andrew Schwartz, Caleb Stewart, Huntress
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects file modifications to the temporary xml user database file indicating local user modification in the ScreenConnect server. This will occur during exploitation of the ScreenConnect Authentication Bypass vulnerability (CVE-2024-1709) in versions <23.9.8, but may also be observed when making legitimate modifications to local users or permissions.

Known False Positives

  • This will occur legitimately as well and will result in some benign activity.

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
PersistenceNo specific technique

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 11: FileCreate

Rule Body

title: ScreenConnect User Database Modification
id: 1a821580-588b-4323-9422-660f7e131020
related:
    - id: 4109cb6a-a4af-438a-9f0c-056abba41c6f
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects file modifications to the temporary xml user database file indicating local user modification in the ScreenConnect server.
    This will occur during exploitation of the ScreenConnect Authentication Bypass vulnerability (CVE-2024-1709) in versions <23.9.8, but may also be observed when making legitimate modifications to local users or permissions.
references:
    - https://www.connectwise.com/company/trust/security-bulletins/connectwise-screenconnect-23.9.8
    - https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-1709
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/a-catastrophe-for-control-understanding-the-screenconnect-authentication-bypass
author: Matt Anderson, Andrew Schwartz, Caleb Stewart, Huntress
date: 2024-02-21
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - cve.2024-1709
    - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|endswith: '.xml'
        TargetFilename|contains|all:
            - 'Temp'
            - 'ScreenConnect'
        Image|endswith: '\ScreenConnect.Service.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - This will occur legitimately as well and will result in some benign activity.
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    TargetFilename|endswith: '.xml'
    TargetFilename|contains|all:
        - 'Temp'
        - 'ScreenConnect'
    Image|endswith: '\ScreenConnect.Service.exe'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Imageends_with
  • \ScreenConnect.Service.exe corpus 2 (sigma 2)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\ScreenConnect.Service.exe"
TargetFilenameends_with
  • .xml corpus 2 (sigma 2)
field:"TargetFilename" kind:ends_with value:".xml"
TargetFilenamematch
  • ScreenConnect
  • Temp
field:"TargetFilename" kind:match

SES Identity Has Been Deleted

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Janantha Marasinghe
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects an instance of an SES identity being deleted via the "DeleteIdentity" event. This may be an indicator of an adversary removing the account that carried out suspicious or malicious activities

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Stealth

Telemetry Coverage

Rules Detecting the Same Action

These rules filter on the same operation.

Rule Body

title: SES Identity Has Been Deleted
id: 20f754db-d025-4a8f-9d74-e0037e999a9a
status: test
description: Detects an instance of an SES identity being deleted via the "DeleteIdentity" event. This may be an indicator of an adversary removing the account that carried out suspicious or malicious activities
references:
    - https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/compromised-cloud-compute-credentials/
author: Janantha Marasinghe
date: 2022-12-13
modified: 2022-12-28
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1070
logsource:
    product: aws
    service: cloudtrail
detection:
    selection:
        eventSource: 'ses.amazonaws.com'
        eventName: 'DeleteIdentity'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    eventSource: 'ses.amazonaws.com'
    eventName: 'DeleteIdentity'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Sign-in Failure Due to Conditional Access Requirements Not Met

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Yochana Henderson, '@Yochana-H'
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Define a baseline threshold for failed sign-ins due to Conditional Access failures

Known False Positives

  • Service Account misconfigured
  • Misconfigured Systems
  • Vulnerability Scanners

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rules Detecting the Same Action

These rules filter on the same operation.

Rule Body

title: Sign-in Failure Due to Conditional Access Requirements Not Met
id: b4a6d707-9430-4f5f-af68-0337f52d5c42
status: test
description: Define a baseline threshold for failed sign-ins due to Conditional Access failures
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/entra/architecture/security-operations-privileged-accounts
author: Yochana Henderson, '@Yochana-H'
date: 2022-06-01
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1110
    - attack.t1078.004
logsource:
    product: azure
    service: signinlogs
detection:
    selection:
        ResultType: 53003
        Resultdescription: Blocked by Conditional Access
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Service Account misconfigured
    - Misconfigured Systems
    - Vulnerability Scanners
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    ResultType: 53003
    Resultdescription: Blocked by Conditional Access

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Suspicious Autorun Registry Modified via WMI

#
Status
experimental
Severity
high
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects suspicious activity where the WMIC process is used to create an autorun registry entry via reg.exe, which is often indicative of persistence mechanisms employed by malware.

Known False Positives

  • Legitimate administrative activity or software installations

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: Suspicious Autorun Registry Modified via WMI
id: c80e66d8-1780-48a9-b412-46663fd21ac0
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects suspicious activity where the WMIC process is used to create an autorun registry entry via reg.exe, which is often indicative of persistence mechanisms employed by malware.
references:
    - Internal Research
    - https://github.com/HackTricks-wiki/hacktricks/blob/e4c7b21b8f36c97c35b7c622732b38a189ce18f7/src/windows-hardening/windows-local-privilege-escalation/privilege-escalation-with-autorun-binaries.md
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-02-17
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1547.001
    - attack.t1047
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_execution_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wmic.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe' # wmic process call create 'reg.exe add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run /v Desktops /t REG_SZ /d "\"C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\tre\Desktops.exe\" random" /f'
        - ParentImage|endswith: '\wmiprvse.exe'
    selection_execution_cmd:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'reg'
            - ' add '
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'
            - '\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'
            - '\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run'
    selection_suspicious_paths_1:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ':\Perflogs'
            - :\ProgramData'
            - ':\Windows\Temp'
            - ':\Temp'
            - '\AppData\Local\Temp'
            - '\AppData\Roaming'
            - ':\$Recycle.bin'
            - ':\Users\Default'
            - ':\Users\public'
            - '%temp%'
            - '%tmp%'
            - '%Public%'
            - '%AppData%'
    selection_suspicious_paths_user_1:
        CommandLine|contains: ':\Users\'
    selection_suspicious_paths_user_2:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\Favorites'
            - '\Favourites'
            - '\Contacts'
            - '\Music'
            - '\Pictures'
            - '\Documents'
            - '\Photos'
    condition: all of selection_execution_* and (selection_suspicious_paths_1 or (all of selection_suspicious_paths_user_*))
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administrative activity or software installations
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

all of selection_execution_* and (selection_suspicious_paths_1 or (all of selection_suspicious_paths_user_*))

Stage 1: selection_execution_img

selection_execution_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\wmic.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe'
    - ParentImage|endswith: '\wmiprvse.exe'

Stage 2: selection_execution_cmd

selection_execution_cmd:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'reg'
        - ' add '
    CommandLine|contains:
        - '\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'
        - '\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'
        - '\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run'

Stage 3: selection_suspicious_paths_1

selection_suspicious_paths_1:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - ':\Perflogs'
        - :\ProgramData'
        - ':\Windows\Temp'
        - ':\Temp'
        - '\AppData\Local\Temp'
        - '\AppData\Roaming'
        - ':\$Recycle.bin'
        - ':\Users\Default'
        - ':\Users\public'
        - '%temp%'
        - '%tmp%'
        - '%Public%'
        - '%AppData%'

Stage 4: selection_suspicious_paths_user_1

selection_suspicious_paths_user_1:
    CommandLine|contains: ':\Users\'

Stage 5: selection_suspicious_paths_user_2

selection_suspicious_paths_user_2:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - '\Favorites'
        - '\Favourites'
        - '\Contacts'
        - '\Music'
        - '\Pictures'
        - '\Documents'
        - '\Photos'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • add corpus 14 (sigma 13, splunk 1)
  • %AppData% corpus 11 (sigma 11)
  • %Public% corpus 5 (sigma 5)
  • %temp% corpus 14 (sigma 13, kusto 1)
  • %tmp% corpus 13 (sigma 13)
  • :\$Recycle.bin
  • :\Perflogs corpus 3 (sigma 3)
  • :\ProgramData'
  • :\Temp
  • :\Users\ corpus 6 (sigma 6)
  • :\Users\Default
  • :\Users\public corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • :\Windows\Temp corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \AppData\Local\Temp corpus 8 (sigma 8)
  • \AppData\Roaming
  • \Contacts
  • \Documents
  • \Favorites
  • \Favourites
  • \Music
  • \Photos
  • \Pictures
  • \Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run corpus 3 (sigma 3)
  • \Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run corpus 3 (sigma 3)
  • \Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run corpus 3 (sigma 3)
  • reg corpus 6 (sigma 5, splunk 1)
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
Imageends_with
  • \wmic.exe corpus 62 (sigma 62)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\wmic.exe"
OriginalFileNameeq
  • wmic.exe corpus 74 (sigma 38, elastic 18, splunk 18)
field:"OriginalFileName" kind:eq value:"wmic.exe"
ParentImageends_with
  • \wmiprvse.exe corpus 8 (sigma 8)
field:"ParentImage" kind:ends_with value:"\wmiprvse.exe"

Suspicious Kernel Extension Names

#
Status
experimental
Severity
high
Author
Eric Brown - Nebulock, Inc.
Source
github.com/Nebulock-Inc/macos-coresigma

Detects kernel extensions with suspicious or generic names often used by rootkits and malware

Known False Positives

  • Development and testing kexts

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Stealth

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Suspicious Kernel Extension Names
id: 8aa8d6c9-61fc-46ac-b83f-f055cb640186
status: experimental
description: Detects kernel extensions with suspicious or generic names often used
  by rootkits and malware
references:
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1014/
- https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/20-common-tools-techniques-used-by-macos-threat-actors-malware/
author: Eric Brown - Nebulock, Inc.
date: 2025/10/29
tags:
- attack.defense_evasion
- attack.t1014
logsource:
  product: macos
  service: endpointsecurity
  category: kernel_extension
detection:
  selection:
    esf.event_type: 17
    event.action: kextload
    KextIdentifier|contains:
    - rootkit
    - backdoor
    - keylogger
    - stealth
    - hidden
    - fake
    - com.test.
    - com.temp.
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Development and testing kexts
level: high
modified: 2025/01/15

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
  esf.event_type: 17
  event.action: kextload
  KextIdentifier|contains:
  - rootkit
  - backdoor
  - keylogger
  - stealth
  - hidden
  - fake
  - com.test.
  - com.temp.

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
KextIdentifiermatch
  • backdoor
  • com.temp.
  • com.test.
  • fake
  • hidden
  • keylogger
  • rootkit
  • stealth
field:"KextIdentifier" kind:match
esf.event_typeeq
  • 17 corpus 3 (sigma 3)
field:"esf.event_type" kind:eq value:"17"
event.actioneq
  • kextload corpus 3 (sigma 3)
field:"EventType" kind:eq value:"kextload"

Suspicious Keyboard Layout Load

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects the keyboard preload installation with a suspicious keyboard layout, e.g. Chinese, Iranian or Vietnamese layout load in user session on systems maintained by US staff only

Known False Positives

  • Administrators or users that actually use the selected keyboard layouts (heavily depends on the organisation's user base)

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Resource Development

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Suspicious Keyboard Layout Load
id: 34aa0252-6039-40ff-951f-939fd6ce47d8
status: test
description: Detects the keyboard preload installation with a suspicious keyboard layout, e.g. Chinese, Iranian or Vietnamese layout load in user session on systems maintained by US staff only
references:
    - https://renenyffenegger.ch/notes/Windows/registry/tree/HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Keyboard-Layout/Preload/index
    - https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config/pull/92/files
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2019-10-12
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
    - attack.resource-development
    - attack.t1588.002
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
    definition: 'Requirements: Sysmon config that monitors \Keyboard Layout\Preload subkey of the HKLU hives - see https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config/pull/92/files'
detection:
    selection_registry:
        TargetObject|contains:
            - '\Keyboard Layout\Preload\'
            - '\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes\'
        Details|contains:
            - 00000429  # Persian (Iran)
            - 00050429  # Persian (Iran)
            - 0000042a  # Vietnamese
    condition: selection_registry
falsepositives:
    - Administrators or users that actually use the selected keyboard layouts (heavily depends on the organisation's user base)
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection_registry

Stage 1: selection_registry

selection_registry:
    TargetObject|contains:
        - '\Keyboard Layout\Preload\'
        - '\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes\'
    Details|contains:
        - 00000429
        - 00050429
        - 0000042a

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Detailsmatch
  • 00000429
  • 0000042a
  • 00050429
field:"Details" kind:match
TargetObjectmatch
  • \Keyboard Layout\Preload\
  • \Keyboard Layout\Substitutes\
field:"TargetObject" kind:match

Suspicious Mstsc.EXE Execution With Local RDP File

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects potential RDP connection via Mstsc using a local ".rdp" file located in suspicious locations.

Known False Positives

  • Likelihood is related to how often the paths are used in the environment

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: Suspicious Mstsc.EXE Execution With Local RDP File
id: 6e22722b-dfb1-4508-a911-49ac840b40f8
status: test
description: Detects potential RDP connection via Mstsc using a local ".rdp" file located in suspicious locations.
references:
    - https://www.blackhillsinfosec.com/rogue-rdp-revisiting-initial-access-methods/
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20230726144748/https://blog.thickmints.dev/mintsights/detecting-rogue-rdp/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-04-18
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1219.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\mstsc.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'mstsc.exe'
    selection_extension:
        CommandLine|endswith:
            - '.rdp'
            - '.rdp"'
    selection_paths:
        # Note: This list of paths is better transformed into a whitelist where you only exclude legitimate locations you use in your env
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ':\Users\Public\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color'
            - ':\Windows\System32\Tasks_Migrated '
            - ':\Windows\Tasks\'
            - ':\Windows\Temp\'
            - ':\Windows\Tracing\'
            - '\AppData\Local\Temp\'
            # - '\Desktop\' # Could be source of FP depending on the environment
            - '\Downloads\' # Could be source of FP depending on the environment
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Likelihood is related to how often the paths are used in the environment
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

all of selection_*

Stage 1: selection_img

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\mstsc.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'mstsc.exe'

Stage 2: selection_extension

selection_extension:
    CommandLine|endswith:
        - '.rdp'
        - '.rdp"'

Stage 3: selection_paths

selection_paths:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - ':\Users\Public\'
        - ':\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color'
        - ':\Windows\System32\Tasks_Migrated '
        - ':\Windows\Tasks\'
        - ':\Windows\Temp\'
        - ':\Windows\Tracing\'
        - '\AppData\Local\Temp\'
        - '\Downloads\'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLineends_with
  • .rdp corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • .rdp" corpus 2 (sigma 2)
field:"CommandLine" kind:ends_with
CommandLinematch
  • :\Users\Public\ corpus 20 (sigma 18, elastic 2)
  • :\Windows\System32\Tasks_Migrated
  • :\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color
  • :\Windows\Tasks\ corpus 6 (sigma 6)
  • :\Windows\Temp\ corpus 16 (sigma 16)
  • :\Windows\Tracing\ corpus 2 (sigma 2)
  • \AppData\Local\Temp\ corpus 28 (sigma 26, elastic 2)
  • \Downloads\ corpus 15 (sigma 14, elastic 1)
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
Imageends_with
  • \mstsc.exe corpus 6 (sigma 6)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\mstsc.exe"
OriginalFileNameeq
  • mstsc.exe corpus 5 (sigma 4, elastic 1)
field:"OriginalFileName" kind:eq value:"mstsc.exe"

TacticalRMM Service Installation

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects a TacticalRMM service installation. Tactical RMM is a remote monitoring & management tool.

Known False Positives

  • Legitimate use of the tool

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: TacticalRMM Service Installation
id: 4bb79b62-ef12-4861-981d-2aab43fab642
status: test
description: Detects a TacticalRMM service installation. Tactical RMM is a remote monitoring & management tool.
references:
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/11/28/emotet-strikes-again-lnk-file-leads-to-domain-wide-ransomware/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-11-28
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1219.002
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: system
detection:
    selection_root:
        Provider_Name: 'Service Control Manager'
        EventID: 7045
    selection_service:
        - ImagePath|contains: 'tacticalrmm.exe'
        - ServiceName|contains: 'TacticalRMM Agent Service'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of the tool
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

all of selection_*

Stage 1: selection_root

selection_root:
    Provider_Name: 'Service Control Manager'
    EventID: 7045

Stage 2: selection_service

selection_service:
    - ImagePath|contains: 'tacticalrmm.exe'
    - ServiceName|contains: 'TacticalRMM Agent Service'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Time Travel Debugging Utility Usage

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
Ensar Şamil, @sblmsrsn, @oscd_initiative
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects usage of Time Travel Debugging Utility. Adversaries can execute malicious processes and dump processes, such as lsass.exe, via tttracer.exe.

Known False Positives

  • Legitimate usage by software developers/testers

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Time Travel Debugging Utility Usage
id: 0b4ae027-2a2d-4b93-8c7e-962caaba5b2a
related:
    - id: e76c8240-d68f-4773-8880-5c6f63595aaf
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects usage of Time Travel Debugging Utility. Adversaries can execute malicious processes and dump processes, such as lsass.exe, via tttracer.exe.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Tttracer/
    - https://twitter.com/mattifestation/status/1196390321783025666
    - https://twitter.com/oulusoyum/status/1191329746069655553
author: 'Ensar Şamil, @sblmsrsn, @oscd_initiative'
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
    - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\tttracer.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage by software developers/testers
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    ParentImage|endswith: '\tttracer.exe'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

UAC Bypass via Windows Firewall Snap-In Hijack

#
Status
test
Severity
medium
Author
Tim Rauch, Elastic (idea)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects attempts to bypass User Account Control (UAC) by hijacking the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Windows Firewall snap-in

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

TacticTechniques
Privilege Escalation

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 1: Process creation

Rule Body

title: UAC Bypass via Windows Firewall Snap-In Hijack
id: e52cb31c-10ed-4aea-bcb7-593c9f4a315b
status: test
description: Detects attempts to bypass User Account Control (UAC) by hijacking the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Windows Firewall snap-in
references:
    - https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/uac-bypass-via-windows-firewall-snap-in-hijack.html#uac-bypass-via-windows-firewall-snap-in-hijack
author: Tim Rauch, Elastic (idea)
date: 2022-09-27
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1548
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\mmc.exe'
        ParentCommandLine|contains: 'WF.msc'
    filter:
        Image|endswith: '\WerFault.exe'
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection and not filter

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    ParentImage|endswith: '\mmc.exe'
    ParentCommandLine|contains: 'WF.msc'

Stage 2: not filter

filter:
    Image|endswith: '\WerFault.exe'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

FieldKindExcluded valuesSearch
Imageends_with\WerFault.exeexcludes:Image field:"Image" value:"\WerFault.exe"

UAC Bypass With Fake DLL

#
Status
test
Severity
high
Author
oscd.community, Dmitry Uchakin
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Attempts to load dismcore.dll after dropping it

Known False Positives

  • Actions of a legitimate telnet client

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

ProviderRecord / event type
SysmonEvent ID 7: Image loaded

Rule Body

title: UAC Bypass With Fake DLL
id: a5ea83a7-05a5-44c1-be2e-addccbbd8c03
status: test
description: Attempts to load dismcore.dll after dropping it
references:
    - https://steemit.com/utopian-io/@ah101/uac-bypassing-utility
author: oscd.community, Dmitry Uchakin
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1548.002
    - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\dism.exe'
        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\dismcore.dll'
    filter:
        ImageLoaded: 'C:\Windows\System32\Dism\dismcore.dll'
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Actions of a legitimate telnet client
level: high

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection and not filter

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    Image|endswith: '\dism.exe'
    ImageLoaded|endswith: '\dismcore.dll'

Stage 2: not filter

filter:
    ImageLoaded: 'C:\Windows\System32\Dism\dismcore.dll'

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
Imageends_with
  • \dism.exe corpus 6 (sigma 6)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\dism.exe"
ImageLoadedends_with
  • \dismcore.dll corpus 2 (sigma 2)
field:"ImageLoaded" kind:ends_with value:"\dismcore.dll"

Exclusions

The rule actively suppresses these predicates.

FieldKindExcluded valuesSearch
ImageLoadedeqC:\Windows\System32\Dism\dismcore.dllexcludes:ImageLoaded field:"ImageLoaded" value:"C:\Windows\System32\Dism\dismcore.dll"

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) installation (command)

#
Status
experimental
Severity
medium
Author
mdecrevoisier
Source
github.com/mdecrevoisier/SIGMA-detection-rules

Detects scenarios where an attacker enables the WSL to cary out malicious activities in a virtual instance to avoid detection.

Known False Positives

  • developer computer (with Visual Studio Code)
  • administrator activity

MITRE ATT&CK Coverage

Telemetry Coverage

Rule Body

title: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) installation (command)
description: Detects scenarios where an attacker enables the WSL to cary out malicious activities in a virtual instance to avoid detection.
references:
- https://github.com/mdecrevoisier/EVTX-to-MITRE-Attack/tree/master/TA0005-Defense%20Evasion/T1564-Hide%20artifacts
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-manual
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install
- https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/OtherMSBinaries/Wsl/
- https://blog.f-secure.com/hunting-for-windows-subsystem-for-linux/
- https://blog.lumen.com/no-longer-just-theory-black-lotus-labs-uncovers-linux-executables-deployed-as-stealth-windows-loaders/
tags:
- attack.defense_evasion
- attack.t1564.006
author: mdecrevoisier
status: experimental
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection_wsl_activation_modern: # wsl --install
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - wsl
      - '--install'

  selection_wsl_activation_deprecated: # dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
    NewProcessName|endswith: '\dism.exe'
    CommandLine|contains|all: 
      - Enable-feature
      - Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
      
  condition: selection_wsl_activation_modern or selection_wsl_activation_deprecated
falsepositives:
- developer computer (with Visual Studio Code)
- administrator activity
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection_wsl_activation_modern or selection_wsl_activation_deprecated

Stage 1: selection_wsl_activation_modern

selection_wsl_activation_modern:
  CommandLine|contains|all:
    - wsl
    - '--install'

Stage 2: selection_wsl_activation_deprecated

selection_wsl_activation_deprecated:
  NewProcessName|endswith: '\dism.exe'
  CommandLine|contains|all:
    - Enable-feature
    - Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.

FieldKindValuesSearch
CommandLinematch
  • --install corpus 3 (sigma 3)
  • Enable-feature
  • Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux corpus 3 (sigma 2, elastic 1)
  • wsl
field:"CommandLine" kind:match
NewProcessNameends_with
  • \dism.exe corpus 6 (sigma 6)
field:"Image" kind:ends_with value:"\dism.exe"

Back to all Sigma rules