Suspicious AppX Package Deployment Attempts Through AppInstaller.EXE (via dns_query)

title: Suspicious AppX Package Deployment Attempts Through AppInstaller.EXE (via dns_query)
id: 7548004e-2a67-509a-8f27-625d4098b1c6
status: stable
description: This rule detects DNS queries made by "AppInstaller.EXE". The AppInstaller is the default handler for the "ms-appinstaller" URI. It attempts to load/install a package from the referenced URL
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1105/
    - https://twitter.com/notwhickey/status/1333900137232523264
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/AppInstaller/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-06-24
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1105
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: dns_query
detection:
    selection:
        Image|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_'
        Image|endswith: '\AppInstaller.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium