Malicious Akira Ransomware Execution via Encryption Command-Line Parameters

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-08-23
Updated
2026-08-28

ATT&CK techniques

Impact
  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

What it detects

This rule detects process execution using the distinctive encryption command-line parameters of the Akira ransomware encryptor, matching intrusions where a renamed akira.exe is run against mounted network shares. The switches control encryption scope and percentage across targeted paths and shares. Detecting these parameters catches the encryptor even when the binary is renamed to evade name-based controls.

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INC Ransomware Ransom Note INC-README Written to Disk (via file_event)
Malicious DEVMAN Ransomware Encrypted File and Note Artifacts
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Malicious Akira Ransomware Execution via Encryption Command-Line Parameters
Pivot detection · T1486 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.