Possible Binary Proxy Execution Through VSDiagnostics.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Possible Binary Proxy Execution Through VSDiagnostics.EXE (via process_creation)
id: fc5caeef-459a-588b-8dcc-67c1b9d69cc7
status: stable
description: This rule detects execution of "VSDiagnostics.exe" with the "start" command to launch and proxy arbitrary binaries.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/
    - https://twitter.com/0xBoku/status/1679200664013135872
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-04-06
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\VSDiagnostics.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'VSDiagnostics.exe'
    selection_cli_start:
        CommandLine|contains: 'start'
    selection_cli_launch:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' /launch:'
            - ' -launch:'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium