Malicious Named Pipe kesknq for Token Impersonation (via pipe_created)

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1134.001Token Impersonation/Theft
Defense Evasion
- T1134.001Token Impersonation/Theft
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of the named pipe kesknq used for privilege escalation and token impersonation in an Apache ActiveMQ exploitation leading to LockBit. The specific pipe name was reused across the getsystem routine and a service of the same name. Named pipe impersonation lets the operator elevate from a service context to SYSTEM.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Detect Named Pipe Creation with Koh Default Names

Windows getsystem via Meterpreter/Cobalt Strike when services.exe starts a likely privilege escalation command

Malicious Named Pipe kesknq for Token Impersonation (via pipe_created)

Pivot detection · T1134.001 · 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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