Suspicious Greedy File Removal Via Del (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Greedy File Removal Via Del (via process_creation)
id: 03954b39-8502-57ae-897e-f8125d9d2898
status: stable
description: This rule detects execution of the "del" builtin command to remove files using greedy/wildcard expression. This is frequently used by malware to delete content of folders that perhaps contains the initial malware infection or to delete evidence.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/004/
    - https://www.joesandbox.com/analysis/509330/0/html#1044F3BDBE3BB6F734E357235F4D5898582D
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/erase
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-07
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1070.004
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'Cmd.Exe'
    selection_del:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'del '
            - 'erase '
    selection_extensions:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\\\*.au3'
            - '\\\*.dll'
            - '\\\*.exe'
            - '\\\*.js'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium