AppX Located in Unusual Directory Added to Deployment Pipeline (via appxdeployment-server)

title: AppX Located in Unusual Directory Added to Deployment Pipeline (via appxdeployment-server)
id: 5748b9fb-3629-58ea-b259-7ba18949cde4
status: stable
description: This rule detects an appx package that was added to the pipeline of the "to be processed" packages that is located in uncommon locations.
references:
    - Internal Research
    - https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/inside-malicious-windows-apps-for-malware-deployment/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/appxpkg/troubleshooting
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2021/11/11/bazarloader-call-me-back-attack-abuses-windows-10-apps-mechanism/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-05-04
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1036
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: appxdeployment-server
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 854
    filter_main_generic:
        Path|contains:
            - ':/Program%20Files'
            - ':/Windows/System32/'
            - ':\Program Files (x86)\'
            - ':\Program Files\'
            - ':\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\'
            - ':\Windows\PrintDialog\'
            - ':\Windows\SystemApps\'
            - 'AppData/Local/Temp/WinGet/Microsoft.Winget.Source'
            - 'x-windowsupdate://'
    filter_main_specific:
        Path|contains:
            - 'https://installer.teams.static.microsoft/'
            - 'https://res.cdn.office.net'
            - 'https://statics.teams.cdn.live.net/'
            - 'https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/'
            - 'microsoft.com'
    filter_optional_onedrive:
        Path|contains: 'AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\'
    filter_optional_winget:
        Path|contains:
            - 'AppData/Local/Temp/WinGet/Microsoft.Winget.Source'
            - 'AppData\Local\Temp\WinGet\Microsoft.Winget.Source'
    filter_optional_x_windowsupdate:
        Path|contains: 'x-windowsupdate://'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium