Suspicious Bitsadmin Transfer Download
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-11-03
- Updated
- 2026-11-03
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → C2Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects bitsadmin.exe being used with the transfer verb to download a remote file via the Background Intelligent Transfer Service. In the WithSecure Code Execution and Persistence Lab 1 the Astaroth loader uses bitsadmin /transfer to pull down its payload while blending with legitimate update traffic. Attackers abuse this trusted LOLBin to stage tooling and evade network defenses.
Reporting behind it
- withsecure.comhttps://www.withsecure.com/fi/resurssit/w-labs/attack-detection-fundamentals-code-execution-and-persistence-lab-1/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1197/
- microsoft.comhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/05/15/threat-actors-misusing-quick-assist-in-social-engineering-attacks-leading-to-ransomware/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1105/
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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