Malicious SQL Server Command Execution Spawning Download Utilities via Process Creation

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Persistence

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
- T1505.001SQL Stored Procedures
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the SQL Server service process spawning download capable utilities such as certutil bitsadmin powershell or cmd which in the REF0657 financial services intrusion followed xp_cmdshell abuse to pull tooling onto a compromised database server. The database engine launching these binaries indicates command execution through SQL and should not occur in normal operation.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Command Shell Spawned by SQL Server via xp_cmdshell

Suspicious Script Host Spawning PowerShell via Process Creation

Suspicious PIKABOT PowerShell Download to Public Directory via Process Creation

Suspicious PowerShell Script Fetching Remote Batch File From Paste Site (via ps_script)

Suspicious PowerShell Download of Payload From Pastebin (via process_creation)

Suspicious PowerShell Interaction with ProgramData SysInt Log via Process Creation

Suspicious Node.js Spawning Script Interpreter for Dropped Payload

Suspicious PowerShell Remote Download and Execution via Invoke-WebRequest

Suspicious Script Host Spawning Hidden PowerShell (via process_creation)

Malicious SQL Server Command Execution Spawning Download Utilities via Process Creation

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 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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