Suspicious fontdrvhost Execution with Config Argument

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Persistence
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Priv Esc
- T1053.005Scheduled Task
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a process named fontdrvhost.exe executed with a config file argument, a masquerading pattern from the REF7707 campaign where a renamed tool was staged via a scheduled task named EPolicyManager. The genuine Windows font driver host takes no such command line arguments so this indicates an impostor binary. Combined with scheduled task execution this reveals attacker persistence and execution.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious fontdrvhost Execution with Config Argument

Pivot detection · T1053.005 · 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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