Rule Library

Sigma Rules

1,585 rules found for "defense-evasion"

3,707Total
3,116Detection
451Emerging
137Hunting
Detectionmediumtest

Execution of Suspicious File Type Extension

Detects whether the image specified in a process creation event doesn't refer to an ".exe" (or other known executable extension) file. This can be caused by process ghosting or other unorthodox methods to start a process. This rule might require some initial baselining to align with some third party tooling in the user environment.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense Evasion
Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems)Thu Dec 09windows
Detectionhightest

Non-privileged Usage of Reg or Powershell

Search for usage of reg or Powershell by non-privileged users to modify service configuration in registry

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0003 · PersistenceTA0005 · Defense EvasionT1112 · Modify Registry
Teymur Kheirkhabarov+2Mon Oct 05windows
Detectionhightest

Potentially Suspicious Call To Win32_NTEventlogFile Class

Detects usage of the WMI class "Win32_NTEventlogFile" in a potentially suspicious way (delete, backup, change permissions, etc.) from a PowerShell script

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense Evasion
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Thu Jul 13windows
Detectionmediumtest

Use Short Name Path in Image

Detect use of the Windows 8.3 short name. Which could be used as a method to avoid Image detection

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1564.004 · NTFS File Attributes
François Hubaut+1Sun Aug 07windows
Detectionmediumtest

Use NTFS Short Name in Command Line

Detect use of the Windows 8.3 short name. Which could be used as a method to avoid command-line detection

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1564.004 · NTFS File Attributes
François Hubaut+1Fri Aug 05windows
Detectionmediumtest

Use NTFS Short Name in Image

Detect use of the Windows 8.3 short name. Which could be used as a method to avoid Image based detection

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1564.004 · NTFS File Attributes
François Hubaut+1Sat Aug 06windows
Detectionhightest

Suspicious Process Parents

Detects suspicious parent processes that should not have any children or should only have a single possible child program

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036 · Masquerading
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Mon Mar 21windows
Detectionhightest

Potential PowerShell Execution Via DLL

Detects potential PowerShell execution from a DLL instead of the usual PowerShell process as seen used in PowerShdll. This detection assumes that PowerShell commands are passed via the CommandLine.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1218.011 · Rundll32
Markus Neis+1Sat Aug 25windows
Detectionlowtest

Windows Processes Suspicious Parent Directory

Detect suspicious parent processes of well-known Windows processes

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036.003 · Rename System UtilitiesT1036.005 · Match Legitimate Name or Location
vburovSat Feb 23windows
Detectionhightest

Suspicious Process Execution From Fake Recycle.Bin Folder

Detects process execution from a fake recycle bin folder, often used to avoid security solution.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0003 · PersistenceTA0005 · Defense Evasion
X__Junior (Nextron Systems)Wed Jul 12windows
Detectionmediumtest

Registry Modification of MS-settings Protocol Handler

Detects registry modifications to the 'ms-settings' protocol handler, which is frequently targeted for UAC bypass or persistence. Attackers can modify this registry to execute malicious code with elevated privileges by hijacking the command execution path.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0004 · Privilege EscalationTA0003 · PersistenceT1548.002 · Bypass User Account Control+2
François Hubaut+1Mon Dec 20windows
Detectionhightest

Potential Defense Evasion Via Right-to-Left Override

Detects the presence of the "u202+E" character, which causes a terminal, browser, or operating system to render text in a right-to-left sequence. This character is used as an obfuscation and masquerading techniques by adversaries to trick users into opening malicious files.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036.002 · Right-to-Left Override
Micah Babinski+2Wed Feb 15windows
Detectionhightest

Suspicious Service Binary Directory

Detects a service binary running in a suspicious directory

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1202 · Indirect Command Execution
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Tue Mar 09windows
Detectionhightest

Suspicious Windows Service Tampering

Detects the usage of binaries such as 'net', 'sc' or 'powershell' in order to stop, pause, disable or delete critical or important Windows services such as AV, Backup, etc. As seen being used in some ransomware scripts

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0040 · ImpactT1489 · Service StopT1562.001 · Disable or Modify Tools
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)+2Thu Sep 01windows
Detectionhighstable

Shadow Copies Deletion Using Operating Systems Utilities

Shadow Copies deletion using operating systems utilities

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0040 · ImpactT1070 · Indicator RemovalT1490 · Inhibit System Recovery
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)+5Tue Oct 22windows
Detectionhightest

Windows Shell/Scripting Processes Spawning Suspicious Programs

Detects suspicious child processes of a Windows shell and scripting processes such as wscript, rundll32, powershell, mshta...etc.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0002 · ExecutionTA0005 · Defense EvasionT1059.005 · Visual BasicT1059.001 · PowerShell+1
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)+1Fri Apr 06windows
Detectionmediumtest

Process Creation Using Sysnative Folder

Detects process creation events that use the Sysnative folder (common for CobaltStrike spawns)

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0004 · Privilege EscalationT1055 · Process Injection
Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems)Tue Aug 23windows
Detectionhightest

System File Execution Location Anomaly

Detects the execution of a Windows system binary that is usually located in the system folder from an uncommon location.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036 · Masquerading
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)+4Mon Nov 27windows
Detectionhightest

Suspicious SYSTEM User Process Creation

Detects a suspicious process creation as SYSTEM user (suspicious program or command line parameter)

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0006 · Credential AccessTA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0004 · Privilege EscalationT1134 · Access Token Manipulation+2
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)+1Mon Dec 20windows
Detectionhightest

Tasks Folder Evasion

The Tasks folder in system32 and syswow64 are globally writable paths. Adversaries can take advantage of this and load or influence any script hosts or ANY .NET Application in Tasks to load and execute a custom assembly into cscript, wscript, regsvr32, mshta, eventvwr

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0004 · Privilege EscalationTA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0003 · PersistenceTA0002 · Execution+1
SreemanMon Jan 13windows
Detectionlowtest

Malicious Windows Script Components File Execution by TAEF Detection

Windows Test Authoring and Execution Framework (TAEF) framework allows you to run automation by executing tests files written on different languages (C, C#, Microsoft COM Scripting interfaces Adversaries may execute malicious code (such as WSC file with VBScript, dll and so on) directly by running te.exe

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1218 · System Binary Proxy Execution
Agro oscd.communityTue Oct 13windows
Detectionmediumtest

Malicious PE Execution by Microsoft Visual Studio Debugger

There is an option for a MS VS Just-In-Time Debugger "vsjitdebugger.exe" to launch specified executable and attach a debugger. This option may be used adversaries to execute malicious code by signed verified binary. The debugger is installed alongside with Microsoft Visual Studio package.

WindowsProcess Creation
T1218 · System Binary Proxy ExecutionTA0005 · Defense Evasion
Agro+2Wed Oct 14windows
Detectionmediumtest

Suspicious Userinit Child Process

Detects a suspicious child process of userinit

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0004 · Privilege EscalationTA0005 · Defense EvasionT1055 · Process Injection
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)+1Mon Jun 17windows
Detectionhighexperimental

Suspicious Velociraptor Child Process

Detects the suspicious use of the Velociraptor DFIR tool to execute other tools or download additional payloads, as seen in a campaign where it was abused for remote access and to stage further attacks.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0011 · Command and ControlTA0003 · PersistenceTA0005 · Defense EvasionT1219 · Remote Access Software
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)Fri Aug 29windows
Detectionmediumtest

Weak or Abused Passwords In CLI

Detects weak passwords or often abused passwords (seen used by threat actors) via the CLI. An example would be a threat actor creating a new user via the net command and providing the password inline

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0002 · Execution
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Wed Sep 14windows
Detectionhightest

Execution via WorkFolders.exe

Detects using WorkFolders.exe to execute an arbitrary control.exe

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1218 · System Binary Proxy Execution
Maxime ThiebautThu Oct 21windows
Detectionhightest

Suspect Svchost Activity

It is extremely abnormal for svchost.exe to spawn without any CLI arguments and is normally observed when a malicious process spawns the process and injects code into the process memory space.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0004 · Privilege EscalationT1055 · Process Injection
David BurkettSat Dec 28windows
Detectionhightest

Suspicious Process Masquerading As SvcHost.EXE

Detects a suspicious process that is masquerading as the legitimate "svchost.exe" by naming its binary "svchost.exe" and executing from an uncommon location. Adversaries often disguise their malicious binaries by naming them after legitimate system processes like "svchost.exe" to evade detection.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036.005 · Match Legitimate Name or Location
Swachchhanda Shrawan PoudelWed Aug 07windows
Detectionhighexperimental

Uncommon Svchost Command Line Parameter

Detects instances of svchost.exe running with an unusual or uncommon command line parameter by excluding known legitimate or common patterns. This could point at a file masquerading as svchost, a process injection, or hollowing of a legitimate svchost instance.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0004 · Privilege EscalationT1036.005 · Match Legitimate Name or LocationT1055 · Process Injection+1
Liran RavichFri Nov 14windows
Detectionmediumtest

Uncommon Svchost Parent Process

Detects an uncommon svchost parent process

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036.005 · Match Legitimate Name or Location
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Tue Aug 15windows
Detectionmediumtest

Potential Memory Dumping Activity Via LiveKD

Detects execution of LiveKD based on PE metadata or image name

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense Evasion
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Mon May 15windows
Detectionhightest

Kernel Memory Dump Via LiveKD

Detects execution of LiveKD with the "-m" flag to potentially dump the kernel memory

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense Evasion
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Tue May 16windows
Detectionmediumtest

Procdump Execution

Detects usage of the SysInternals Procdump utility

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036 · MasqueradingT1003.001 · LSASS MemoryTA0006 · Credential Access
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Mon Aug 16windows
Detectionhightest

Potential SysInternals ProcDump Evasion

Detects uses of the SysInternals ProcDump utility in which ProcDump or its output get renamed, or a dump file is moved or copied to a different name

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036 · MasqueradingT1003.001 · LSASS MemoryTA0006 · Credential Access
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Tue Jan 11windows
Detectionhighstable

Potential LSASS Process Dump Via Procdump

Detects potential credential harvesting attempts through LSASS memory dumps using ProcDump. This rule identifies suspicious command-line patterns that combine memory dump flags (-ma, -mm, -mp) with LSASS-related process markers. LSASS (Local Security Authority Subsystem Service) contains sensitive authentication data including plaintext passwords, NTLM hashes, and Kerberos tickets in memory. Attackers commonly dump LSASS memory to extract credentials for lateral movement and privilege escalation.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036 · MasqueradingTA0006 · Credential AccessT1003.001 · LSASS Memory+1
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Tue Oct 30windows
Detectionhightest

Sysinternals PsSuspend Suspicious Execution

Detects suspicious execution of Sysinternals PsSuspend, where the utility is used to suspend critical processes such as AV or EDR to bypass defenses

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1562.001 · Disable or Modify Tools
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Thu Mar 23windows
Detectionmediumtest

Sysmon Configuration Update

Detects updates to Sysmon's configuration. Attackers might update or replace the Sysmon configuration with a bare bone one to avoid monitoring without shutting down the service completely

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1562.001 · Disable or Modify Tools
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Thu Mar 09windows
Detectionhightest

Uninstall Sysinternals Sysmon

Detects the removal of Sysmon, which could be a potential attempt at defense evasion

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1562.001 · Disable or Modify Tools
François HubautWed Jan 12windows
Detectionmediumtest

Potential Binary Impersonating Sysinternals Tools

Detects binaries that use the same name as legitimate sysinternals tools to evade detection. This rule looks for the execution of binaries that are named similarly to Sysinternals tools. Adversary may rename their malicious tools as legitimate Sysinternals tools to evade detection.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0002 · ExecutionTA0005 · Defense EvasionT1218 · System Binary Proxy ExecutionT1202 · Indirect Command Execution+1
François Hubaut+1Mon Dec 20windows
Detectionhightest

Potential Signing Bypass Via Windows Developer Features

Detects when a user enable developer features such as "Developer Mode" or "Application Sideloading". Which allows the user to install untrusted packages.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense Evasion
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Wed Jan 11windows
Detectionmediumtest

Suspicious Recursive Takeown

Adversaries can interact with the DACLs using built-in Windows commands takeown which can grant adversaries higher permissions on specific files and folders

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense Evasionattack.t1222.001
François HubautSun Jan 30windows
Detectionhightest

Taskkill Symantec Endpoint Protection

Detects one of the possible scenarios for disabling Symantec Endpoint Protection. Symantec Endpoint Protection antivirus software services incorrectly implement the protected service mechanism. As a result, the NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM user can execute the taskkill /im command several times ccSvcHst.exe /f, thereby killing the process belonging to the service, and thus shutting down the service.

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1562.001 · Disable or Modify Tools
Ilya Krestinichev+1Tue Sep 13windows
Detectionhightest

Taskmgr as LOCAL_SYSTEM

Detects the creation of taskmgr.exe process in context of LOCAL_SYSTEM

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036 · Masquerading
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Sun Mar 18windows
Detectionlowtest

New Process Created Via Taskmgr.EXE

Detects the creation of a process via the Windows task manager. This might be an attempt to bypass UAC

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionT1036 · Masquerading
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)Tue Mar 13windows
Detectionhightest

UAC Bypass Using ChangePK and SLUI

Detects an UAC bypass that uses changepk.exe and slui.exe (UACMe 61)

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0004 · Privilege EscalationT1548.002 · Bypass User Account Control
Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems)Mon Aug 23windows
Detectionhightest

UAC Bypass Using Disk Cleanup

Detects the pattern of UAC Bypass using scheduled tasks and variable expansion of cleanmgr.exe (UACMe 34)

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0004 · Privilege EscalationT1548.002 · Bypass User Account Control
Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems)Mon Aug 30windows
Detectionhightest

Bypass UAC via CMSTP

Detect commandline usage of Microsoft Connection Manager Profile Installer (cmstp.exe) to install specially formatted local .INF files

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0004 · Privilege EscalationTA0005 · Defense EvasionT1548.002 · Bypass User Account ControlT1218.003 · CMSTP
E.M. Anhaus (originally from Atomic Blue Detections+2Thu Oct 24windows
Detectionhighstable

CMSTP UAC Bypass via COM Object Access

Detects UAC Bypass Attempt Using Microsoft Connection Manager Profile Installer Autoelevate-capable COM Objects (e.g. UACMe ID of 41, 43, 58 or 65)

WindowsProcess Creation
TA0002 · ExecutionTA0005 · Defense EvasionTA0004 · Privilege EscalationT1548.002 · Bypass User Account Control+3
Nik Seetharaman+1Wed Jul 31windows