Shadow Copy Deletion via Vssadmin to Inhibit Recovery
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-09-14
- Updated
- 2026-09-14
ATT&CK techniques
ImpactRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
What it detects
This rule detects vssadmin.exe deleting all volume shadow copies quietly, the recovery-inhibition step performed by PlayBoy Locker before encryption. Removing shadow copies prevents victims from restoring files and is a defining precursor to ransomware detonation.
Reporting behind it
- cybereason.comhttps://www.cybereason.com/blog/threat-analysis-playboy-locker
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1490/
- huntress.comhttps://www.huntress.com/blog/kawalocker-ransomware-deployed
- securelist.comhttps://securelist.com/mallox-ransomware/113529/
- securityintelligence.comhttps://securityintelligence.com/x-force/new-hive0117-phishing-campaign-imitates-conscription-summons-deliver-darkwatchman-malware
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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