Suspicious Executable Running From Fake Chrome User Profile Directory

PremiumReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-07-14
Updated
2026-08-28

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Cred Access

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. Collection

  11. C2

  12. Exfiltration

  13. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a process executing from a user profile directory named Chrome such as C\Users\Chrome. QwixxRAT copies itself as a hidden rat.exe into this fabricated profile path to blend with the Chrome browser and evade casual inspection. A process running from a user folder named after a browser is an uncommon masquerading pattern that warrants review.

Related detections9 linkedT1564.001 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Execution from Reserved Device Name Directory by Miner Campaign
Suspicious File Hiding via Attrib System and Hidden Attributes
Suspicious attrib Hidden and System Attribute Assignment
Suspicious File Hiding via attrib Plus H in Java RAT Persistence Setup
Suspicious Execution of Hidden Binary from Private Tmp via Process Creation
Suspicious Executable Written to User Documents Subfolder (via file_event)
Suspicious Sobolan Staging Directory Creation in var tmp (via file_event)
FireWood Backdoor Persistence Files in Hidden kde-root Directory (via file_event)
Suspicious Attrib Hiding of Stealer Artifacts (via process_creation)
Suspicious Executable Running From Fake Chrome User Profile Directory
Pivot detection · T1564.001 · 9 related

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