Suspicious Lazarus queue.bat Persistence Dropped in Startup Folder

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
file_event
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-07-29
Updated
2026-08-28

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Defense Evasion

  6. Cred Access

  7. Discovery

  8. Lateral Movement

  9. Collection

  10. C2

  11. Exfiltration

  12. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the creation of a file named queue.bat inside a Windows Startup folder which is the persistence mechanism used by the Lazarus DeceptiveDevelopment and Contagious Interview campaigns. The batch file relaunches the malicious Node.js and Python loader chain at every logon. Attackers use it to maintain foothold on developer machines targeted through fake job interviews.

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Suspicious Lazarus queue.bat Persistence Dropped in Startup Folder
Pivot detection · T1547.001 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.