Suspicious New Network Trace Capture Started Through Netsh.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious New Network Trace Capture Started Through Netsh.EXE (via process_creation)
id: fc09df2c-a1e6-5ee8-8404-5baed469321c
status: stable
description: This rule detects the execution of netsh with the "trace" flag to start a network capture
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1040/
    - https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/canberrapfe/2012/03/30/capture-a-network-trace-without-installing-anything-capture-a-network-trace-of-a-reboot/
    - https://klausjochem.me/2016/02/03/netsh-the-cyber-attackers-tool-of-choice/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-26
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1040
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\netsh.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'netsh.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'trace'
            - 'start'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium