Malicious TALONITE GUP.exe Proxy Masquerading as Notepad++ Updater (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

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

What it detects

This rule detects execution of GUP.exe from any location outside the legitimate Notepad++ installation directory. TALONITE deploys a malicious proxy binary named GUP.exe to impersonate the genuine Notepad++ updater and blend into normal host activity. A GUP.exe running from a user, temp, or unexpected path indicates a masquerading C2 proxy rather than the real updater.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious TALONITE GUP.exe Proxy Masquerading as Notepad++ Updater (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1036.005 · 9 related

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