Suspicious Backup Exec Remote Agent Spawning Command Shell via Process Creation (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.003Windows Command Shell
- T1197BITS Jobs
Persistence
- T1197BITS Jobs
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1197BITS Jobs
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the Backup Exec Remote Agent (beremote.exe) spawning a command shell, bitsadmin, or PowerShell, the exploitation chain Red Canary traced from a vulnerable backup service into hands-on-keyboard activity. Backup agents should not launch interpreters or download utilities, so this parentage strongly indicates the service was abused for initial access.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Backup Exec Remote Agent Spawning Command Shell via Process Creation (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1059.003 · 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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