Possible Notepad Password Files Enumeration (via process_creation)

title: Possible Notepad Password Files Enumeration (via process_creation)
id: 60e770e4-3568-5393-afca-819dd448943f
status: stable
description: This rule detects the execution of Notepad to open a file that has the string "password" which may indicate unauthorized access to credentials or anomalous activity.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1083/
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2025/02/24/confluence-exploit-leads-to-lockbit-ransomware/
    - https://intel.thedfirreport.com/eventReports/view/57
author: 'Huntrule Team'
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1083
date: 2026-07-21
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\explorer.exe'
        Image|endswith: '\notepad.exe'
        CommandLine|endswith:
            - 'password*.txt'
            - 'password*.csv'
            - 'password*.doc'
            - 'password*.xls'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: low