Windows: File Download via CertOC.exe Using -GetCACAPS HTTP
Flags CertOC.exe launched with -GetCACAPS and an http URL, indicating a remote file retrieval attempt.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-05-16
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
C2Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
Identifies process executions of CertOC.exe where the command line includes -GetCACAPS and an HTTP URL, indicating an attempt to download file content. This matters because CertOC.exe can be abused to retrieve remote resources, which may support further malicious activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name/path and key substrings in the command line.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: "Windows: File Download via CertOC.exe Using -GetCACAPS HTTP"
id: d7704bec-f020-4ccc-b50b-42468760cca4
related:
- id: b86f6dea-0b2f-41f5-bdcc-a057bd19cd6a
type: similar
- id: 70ad0861-d1fe-491c-a45f-fa48148a300d
type: derived
status: test
description: Identifies process executions of CertOC.exe where the command line includes -GetCACAPS and an HTTP URL, indicating an attempt to download file content. This matters because CertOC.exe can be abused to retrieve remote resources, which may support further malicious activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name/path and key substrings in the command line.
references:
- https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Certoc/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_certoc_download.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-05-16
modified: 2023-10-18
tags:
- attack.command-and-control
- attack.t1105
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \certoc.exe
- OriginalFileName: CertOC.exe
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- -GetCACAPS
- http
condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1