Malicious Command Shell Spawned by SQL Server via Process Creation (via process_creation)
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-10-23
- Updated
- 2026-10-23
ATT&CK techniques
Initial Access → PersistenceRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects the SQL Server process spawning cmd.exe or powershell.exe, the xp_cmdshell execution that follows SQL injection against FortiClientEMS in the CVE-2023-48788 exploitation Red Canary reported. A database engine launching a command interpreter is a classic sign of xp_cmdshell abuse turning a SQL flaw into operating system code execution.
Reporting behind it
- redcanary.comhttps://redcanary.com/blog/threat-intelligence/cve-2023-48788/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1190/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1505/003/
- microsoft.comhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/02/12/the-badpilot-campaign-seashell-blizzard-subgroup-conducts-multiyear-global-access-operation/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
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