Use Short Name Path in Command Line

title: Use Short Name Path in Command Line
id: 349d891d-fef0-4fe4-bc53-eee623a15969
related:
    - id: a96970af-f126-420d-90e1-d37bf25e50e1
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects the use of short name paths (8.3 format) in command lines, which can be used to obfuscate paths or access restricted locations.
    Windows creates short 8.3 filenames (like PROGRA~1) for compatibility with MS-DOS-based or 16-bit Windows programs.
    When investigating, examine:
    - Commands using short paths to access sensitive directories or files
    - Web servers on Windows (especially Apache) where short filenames could bypass security controls
    - Correlation with other suspicious behaviors
    - baseline of short name usage in your environment and look for deviations
references:
    - https://www.acunetix.com/blog/articles/windows-short-8-3-filenames-web-security-problem/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-2000-server/cc959352(v=technet.10)
    - https://twitter.com/frack113/status/1555830623633375232
author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali
date: 2022-08-07
modified: 2025-10-22
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1564.004
    - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '~1\'
            - '~2\'
    filter_main_system_process:
        ParentImage:
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\Dism.exe'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\cleanmgr.exe'
    filter_main_winget:
        - ParentImage|endswith: '\winget.exe'
        - ParentImage|contains: '\AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\'
    filter_main_csc:
        ParentImage|startswith: 'C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v'
        ParentImage|endswith: '\csc.exe'
    filter_main_installers:
        - Image|contains|all:
              - '\AppData\'
              - '\Temp\'
        - CommandLine|contains: '\AppData\Local\Temp\' # sometimes installers spawn other installers from temp folder
    filter_optional_dopus:
        ParentImage: 'C:\Program Files\GPSoftware\Directory Opus\dopus.exe'
    filter_optional_aurora:
        ParentImage|endswith:
            - '\aurora-agent-64.exe'
            - '\aurora-agent.exe'
    filter_optional_thor:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\thor\thor64.exe'
    filter_optional_git:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'C:\Program Files\Git\post-install.bat'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Git\cmd\scalar.exe'
    filter_optional_webex:
        - ParentImage|endswith: '\WebEx\webexhost.exe'
        - CommandLine|contains: '\appdata\local\webex\webex64\meetings\wbxreport.exe'
    filter_optional_veeam:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\veeam.backup.shell.exe'
    filter_optional_everything:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\Everything\Everything.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Applications could use this notation occasionally which might generate some false positives. In that case investigate the parent and child process.
level: medium