Detectionhightest

Security Privileges Enumeration Via Whoami.EXE

Detects a whoami.exe executed with the /priv command line flag instructing the tool to show all current user privileges. This is often used after a privilege escalation attempt.

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Launch
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Created Wed May 05Updated Tue Feb 2897a80ec7-0e2f-4d05-9ef4-65760e634f6bwindows
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 Logic2 selectors
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\whoami.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'whoami.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' /priv'
            - ' -priv'
    condition: all of selection_*
False Positives
Unknown

False positive likelihood has not been assessed. Additional context may be needed during triage.

Rule Metadata
Rule ID
97a80ec7-0e2f-4d05-9ef4-65760e634f6b
Status
test
Level
high
Type
Detection
Created
Wed May 05
Modified
Tue Feb 28
Path
rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_whoami_priv_discovery.yml
Raw Tags
attack.privilege-escalationattack.discoveryattack.t1033
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