Possible Recon Behavior Through Nltest.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Possible Recon Behavior Through Nltest.EXE (via process_creation)
id: e6cbd6ef-b926-5f3a-b6f0-272a5b58d479
status: stable
description: This rule detects nltest commands that can be used for information discovery
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1482/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1016/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/cc731935(v=ws.11)
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/08/16/trickbot-leads-up-to-fake-1password-installation/
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2020/10/18/ryuk-in-5-hours/
    - https://book.hacktricks.xyz/windows/basic-cmd-for-pentesters
    - https://research.nccgroup.com/2022/08/19/back-in-black-unlocking-a-lockbit-3-0-ransomware-attack/
    - https://eqllib.readthedocs.io/en/latest/analytics/03e231a6-74bc-467a-acb1-e5676b0fb55e.html
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/how-one-hospital-thwarted-a-ryuk-ransomware-outbreak/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/5360c9d9ffa3b25f6495f7a16e267b719eba2c37/atomics/T1482/T1482.md#atomic-test-2---windows---discover-domain-trusts-with-nltest
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-02
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1016
    - attack.t1482
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_nltest:
        - Image|endswith: '\nltest.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'nltestrk.exe'
    selection_recon:
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'server'
              - 'query'
        - CommandLine|contains:
              - '/user'
              - 'all_trusts'
              - 'dclist:'
              - 'dnsgetdc:'
              - 'domain_trusts'
              - 'dsgetdc:'
              - 'parentdomain'
              - 'trusted_domains'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium