Suspicious File Recovery From Backup Through Wbadmin.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious File Recovery From Backup Through Wbadmin.EXE (via process_creation)
id: 1d380069-9ac8-57d2-ae3c-92605f4300a8
status: stable
description: This rule detects the recovery of files from backups via "wbadmin.exe". Attackers can restore sensitive files such as NTDS.DIT or Registry Hives from backups to potentially extract credentials.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1490/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-recovery
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Wbadmin/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-02-06
tags:
    - attack.impact
    - attack.t1490
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wbadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'WBADMIN.EXE'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' recovery'
            - 'recoveryTarget'
            - 'itemtype:File'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium