Suspicious Host.exe In Windows Directory Running As Service

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1543.003Windows Service
Priv Esc
- T1543.003Windows Service
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
- T1486Data Encrypted for Impact

What it detects

This rule detects execution of host.exe from the Windows directory with a service-style command line switch. BlackByte ransomware operators deployed C:\Windows\host.exe run with an -s flag and an eight-digit token to register itself as a service. A generically named binary placed in the Windows root and launched as a service is a masquerading and persistence pattern used to blend malicious execution into the OS.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Host.exe In Windows Directory Running As Service

Pivot detection · T1543.003 · 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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