huntrule

macOS Screen Capture via /usr/sbin/screencapture Process Execution

Identifies macOS instances where /usr/sbin/screencapture is executed to collect screenshots.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v2
Product
macos
Category
process_creation
Author
remotephone, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-13
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Collection

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process executions of /usr/sbin/screencapture on macOS, indicating an attempt to collect screenshots from the local system. Attackers may use built-in screenshot utilities to capture sensitive information for later exfiltration or analysis. The detection relies on process creation telemetry that records the executed Image path.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1113 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Keylog and Screenshot Files in windows-cache Directory (OtterCookie)
Suspicious RDP Shadow Session Started - Native (via rdp)
Malicious RDP Shadow Session Configuration Enabled - Registry (via registry_event)
Suspicious GoGRPC Screen Capture Log File Creation (via file_event)
Suspicious Screen Capture via PowerShell Graphics API (via process_creation)
Malicious RDP Shadow Session Started - Command (via process_creation)
Windows Registry: EnablePeriodicBackup value set for periodic system hive backups
Windows Recall Enabled by Deleting DisableAIDataAnalysis Registry Value
Windows Recall Enabled by Registry: DisableAIDataAnalysis Set to 0 (Windows)
macOS Screen Capture via /usr/sbin/screencapture Process Execution
Pivot detection · T1113 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v1
    No 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.