Detectionhightest

Suspicious Mstsc.EXE Execution With Local RDP File

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

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Launch
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Created Tue Apr 186e22722b-dfb1-4508-a911-49ac840b40f8windows
Log Source
WindowsProcess Creation
ProductWindows← raw: windows
CategoryProcess Creation← raw: process_creation

Events generated when a new process is spawned on the system. Covers command-line arguments, parent/child relationships, and process metadata.

Detection Logic
Detection Logic3 selectors
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_*
False Positives

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

MITRE ATT&CK

Other

attack.t1219.002
Rule Metadata
Rule ID
6e22722b-dfb1-4508-a911-49ac840b40f8
Status
test
Level
high
Type
Detection
Created
Tue Apr 18
Path
rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_mstsc_run_local_rdp_file_susp_location.yml
Raw Tags
attack.command-and-controlattack.t1219.002
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