Renamed Execution of a Renamed Windows System Utility (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1036.003Rename Legitimate Utilities
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a built-in Windows system utility running under a filename that does not match its embedded original binary name, exposing a mismatch between the PE OriginalFileName and the on-disk image. Renaming trusted utilities such as cmd, powershell, certutil or rundll32 is a defense-evasion technique highlighted in the Red Canary Threat Detection Report that lets adversaries slip past name-based detections and application controls. Alerting on the OriginalFileName-to-image mismatch surfaces the evasion regardless of the alias chosen.

Reporting behind it

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Renamed Execution of a Renamed Windows System Utility (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1036.003 · 9 related

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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