Malicious NetSupport Client Executed from Masqueraded VMware ProgramData Path

ATT&CK techniques

C2

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
- T1219Remote Access Tools
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the NetSupport remote-access client32.exe running from a ProgramData path disguised as VMware Tools, a masquerade used to deploy NetSupport RAT in the Parallax intrusion. The legitimate NetSupport binary never installs into a fake VMware folder under ProgramData. Detecting the wrong-context execution exposes abused remote-access tooling.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1219 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious AnyDesk Unattended Access Configuration via Command Line (via process_creation)

Suspicious NetSupport client32 Persistence via Run Key from ProgramData

Suspicious Atera Agent Silent Onboarding via Process Creation

Suspicious Remote Access Tool User Agent in Outbound Traffic via Proxy

Suspicious ScreenConnect Remote Access Binary Running Under a Renamed Executable

Malicious NetSupport Client Executed from Masqueraded VMware ProgramData Path

Pivot detection · T1219 · 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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