Possible DCOM MSI Install Server Execution via Msiexec Embedding (via process_creation)
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-09-15
- Updated
- 2026-09-15
ATT&CK techniques
Defense Evasion → Lateral MovementRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects msiexec.exe launched with the -Embedding switch as a child of the DCOM launcher service, the execution pattern abused by the DCOM Upload and Execute backdoor described by Deep Instinct. Attackers invoke the MSI install server DCOM object remotely to run code without PsExec-style services. This can indicate lateral movement over DCOM using a signed Windows binary.
Reporting behind it
- deepinstinct.comhttps://www.deepinstinct.com/blog/forget-psexec-dcom-upload-execute-backdoor
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/003/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/007/
- deepinstinct.comhttps://www.deepinstinct.com/ja/blog/forget-psexec-dcom-upload-execute-backdoor
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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