huntrule

Suspicious Child Process Spawned From Java Following Web Exploitation

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-07-16
Updated
2026-08-28
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access → Execution

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a Java process spawning a command shell or discovery utility, the post-exploitation behavior seen after ShinyHunters exploited the Oracle PeopleSoft PeopleTools zero-day to gain code execution. A Java application server launching cmd, PowerShell or reconnaissance commands is a strong web-exploitation indicator. This pattern precedes remote-management deployment and lateral movement.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange
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Malicious SharePoint w3wp Spawning Command Shell and PowerShell
Suspicious Child Process Spawned by Triofox GladinetCloudMonitor
Malicious PowerShell UrlDecode Payload Spawned by SQL Server after FortiClient EMS Exploitation
Malicious IIS w3wp Worker Spawning Command Interpreter via SharePoint Web Shell
Suspicious SolarWinds Web Help Desk Java Process Spawning Command Shell
Malicious IIS Worker Process Spawning PowerShell via Gladinet CentreStack Exploit
Suspicious Child Process Spawned From Java Following Web Exploitation
Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.