Suspicious New Remote Desktop Connection Initiated Through Mstsc.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious New Remote Desktop Connection Initiated Through Mstsc.EXE (via process_creation)
id: 1805fe8e-7850-5dac-a534-62000bf01a10
status: stable
description: This rule detects the use of "mstsc.exe" with the "/v" flag to initiate a connection to a remote server. Adversaries may use valid accounts to log into a computer using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). The adversary may then perform actions as the logged-on user.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/001/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1021.001/T1021.001.md#t1021001---remote-desktop-protocol
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/mstsc
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-14
tags:
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\mstsc.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'mstsc.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' /v:'
    filter_optional_wsl:
        ParentImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\lxss\wslhost.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\WSL\wslg.rdp'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium