Suspicious MSSQL xp_cmdshell OS Command Execution via sqlservr.exe (via process_creation)
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-05-23
- Updated
- 2026-08-28
ATT&CK techniques
Initial Access → ExecutionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects the MSSQL server process sqlservr.exe spawning a command interpreter, indicating xp_cmdshell abuse for operating system command execution as seen in the printer-and-BitLocker extortion scheme. Attackers exploiting exposed MSSQL instances use this to run arbitrary commands and stage further tooling on the host.
Reporting behind it
- securelist.comhttps://securelist.com/new-extortion-scheme-printers-bitlocker/120718/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1190/
- thedfirreport.comhttps://thedfirreport.com/2023/12/04/sql-brute-force-leads-to-bluesky-ransomware/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/
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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