Suspicious Execute From Alternate Data Streams (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Execute From Alternate Data Streams (via process_creation)
id: 2db8b698-e77b-53d0-a852-36addbaf6645
status: stable
description: This rule detects execution from an Alternate Data Stream (ADS). Threat actors may use NTFS file attributes to hide their hostile data to evade detection
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/004/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1564.004/T1564.004.md
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-24
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1564.004
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_stream:
        CommandLine|contains: 'txt:'
    selection_tools_type:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'type '
            - ' > '
    selection_tools_makecab:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'makecab '
            - '.cab'
    selection_tools_reg:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'reg '
            - ' export '
    selection_tools_regedit:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'regedit '
            - ' /E '
    selection_tools_esentutl:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'esentutl '
            - ' /y '
            - ' /d '
            - ' /o '
    condition: selection_stream and (1 of selection_tools_*)
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium