Malicious Desktop Window Manager Impersonation From Non-System Path via process_creation

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1055.012Process Hollowing
Defense Evasion
- T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location
- T1055.012Process Hollowing
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a process named dwm.exe running from a location other than the Windows system directories which indicates masquerading and likely process hollowing. SilentCryptoMiner hollowed a legitimate dwm.exe host to run its XMRig payload while evading defenders. The genuine Desktop Window Manager only ever runs from System32 so any other path is highly suspicious.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Desktop Window Manager Impersonation From Non-System Path via process_creation

Pivot detection · T1036.005 · 9 related

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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