Suspicious Process Creation Attempt through Wmic.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Process Creation Attempt through Wmic.EXE (via process_creation)
id: e957eefc-2754-5129-9e52-f19ab89b299f
status: stable
description: This rule detects the attempt to create a process via "wmic" with the "process call create" flag, which might indicate an attempt to execute a hostile process on the compromised host. Threat actors may use wmic to execute a process on the compromised host as part of their attack. This event is triggered on on attempt and process creation can be either successful or unsuccessful.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1047/
    - https://www.sans.org/blog/wmic-for-incident-response/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/84215139ee5127f8e3a117e063b604812bd71928/atomics/T1047/T1047.md#atomic-test-5---wmi-execute-local-process
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-02-14
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1047
    - car.2016-03-002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wmic.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'process'
            - 'call'
            - 'create'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium
simulation:
    - type: atomic red team
      name: WMI Execute Local Process
      technique: T1047
      atomic_guid: b3bdfc91-b33e-4c6d-a5c8-d64bee0276b3
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_process_creation/info.yml