Suspicious Execution of PIF File as AutoIt Loader

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1055.012Process Hollowing
Defense Evasion
- T1055.012Process Hollowing
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects execution of a process image with the .pif extension, an abuse observed in a Lumma infostealer campaign where a renamed AutoIt3 interpreter named Riding.pif performed process hollowing to inject the stealer. It captures the use of an uncommon executable extension to disguise a script interpreter. Detecting this is important because .pif files launching as active processes are almost never legitimate on modern systems and frequently indicate masqueraded loader activity.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1055.012 — drag to rearrange

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PureHVNC Process Hollowing into RegAsm Spawned by PowerShell (via process_creation)

Suspicious DotNet Utility Spawned by Script Host for Hollowing (via process_creation)

Suspicious RegSvcs Reflective .NET Load from Fake Update Chain

In-Memory XWorm Injection Target RegAsm Spawned from User AppData (via process_creation)

Possible Process Injection Target RegAsm Launched Without Arguments via Process Creation

In-Memory Regasm Process Hollowing Spawned by PowerShell (via process_creation)

Suspicious AppLaunch.exe Execution as Process Hollowing Target

Suspicious Execution of PIF File as AutoIt Loader

Pivot detection · T1055.012 · 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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