Suspicious Execution of Renamed AutoHotkey.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Execution of Renamed AutoHotkey.EXE (via process_creation)
id: b747b1a0-e4ea-5f9a-b09f-9246c057a74d
status: stable
description: This rule detects execution of a renamed autohotkey.exe binary based on PE metadata fields
references:
    - https://www.autohotkey.com/download/
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2023/02/06/collect-exfiltrate-sleep-repeat/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-17
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1036.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Product|contains: 'AutoHotkey'
        - Description|contains: 'AutoHotkey'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'AutoHotkey.exe'
              - 'AutoHotkey.rc'
    filter:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\AutoHotkey.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkey32.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkey32_UIA.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkey64.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkey64_UIA.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkeyA32.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkeyA32_UIA.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkeyU32.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkeyU32_UIA.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkeyU64.exe'
              - '\AutoHotkeyU64_UIA.exe'
        - Image|contains: '\AutoHotkey'
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium