Suspicious Command Shell Spawned by WMI Provider Host Targeting ADMIN Share (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Lateral Movement

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1047Windows Management Instrumentation
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
- T1021.002SMB/Windows Admin Shares
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects cmd.exe spawned by the WMI provider host with a command line referencing the ADMIN administrative share, a remote execution pattern Volt Typhoon uses to run commands and stage output over WMI. Combining a WMI parent with administrative share access reflects remote lateral movement rather than routine local scripting, making it a strong signal of interactive intrusion activity.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1021.002 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Remote Process Creation via WMIC Node

Malicious Impacket WMIExec ADMIN Share Output Redirection

Malicious Remote Process Creation via wmic node call create

Malicious Impacket wmiexec Output Redirection via ADMIN Share

Windows WMI DLL Hijack via Network-placed wbemcomn.dll in System32\wbem

Windows WMIPRVSE DLL Hijack via Network-Created wbemcomn.dll in System32\wbem

Windows Security Log: Network Write of wbemcomn.dll in System32\wbem for WMI DLL Hijack (T1047)

Malicious Network Share Manipulation via Commandline (via process_creation)

Suspicious Remote Process Creation via WMIC Process Call Create (via process_creation)

Suspicious Command Shell Spawned by WMI Provider Host Targeting ADMIN Share (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1021.002 · 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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