Suspicious Process Creation via WMIC Process Call Create

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Lateral Movement

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1047Windows Management Instrumentation
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
- T1021.006Windows Remote Management
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects wmic.exe launching a new process through the process call create method which APT41 leverages for stealthy local and remote execution. The technique spawns children under WmiPrvSE outside normal parent chains to evade detection. It matters because it is a frequent whitelisting bypass used during hands-on-keyboard activity.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1047 — drag to rearrange

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Lateral Movement via WMIC Remote Process Creation

Suspicious WinRM Compatibility HTTPS Listener Enabled via winrm.vbs

Malicious UAT-8302 Remote Process Execution via wmic

Malicious Remote Encryptor Execution via WMIC Process Call Create (Chaos Ransomware)

Malicious Impacket Wmiexec Remote Command Execution Pattern

Suspicious Process Creation via WMIC Process Call Create

Pivot detection · T1047 · 9 related

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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