Suspicious File Download Via ProtocolHandler.exe (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious File Download Via ProtocolHandler.exe (via process_creation)
id: f00fd615-3e83-5e89-a5ca-6c5b89a028ae
status: stable
description: This rule detects use of "ProtocolHandler" to download files. Downloaded files will be located in the cache folder (for example - %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE)
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1218/T1218.md
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/OtherMSBinaries/ProtocolHandler/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-05-05
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\protocolhandler.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'ProtocolHandler.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'ftp://'
            - 'http://'
            - 'https://'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium