Suspicious FatalRAT Keylog File Creation in Windows Directory (via file_event)

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
file_event
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-05-22
Updated
2026-08-28

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access → Collection
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. C2

  11. Exfiltration

  12. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of the FatalRAT keylog artifact Fatal.key in the Windows directory. This behavior was observed in Operation SalmonSlalom where the backdoor recorded captured keystrokes to a fixed file for later collection. Detecting this artifact reveals credential and input capture activity on the host.

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Suspicious FatalRAT Keylog File Creation in Windows Directory (via file_event)
Pivot detection · T1056.001 · 9 related

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