Suspicious PsExec Copying Payload To Windows Temp (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Lateral Movement

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
- T1021.002SMB/Windows Admin Shares
- T1570Lateral Tool Transfer
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects PsExec running as SYSTEM to copy a payload into the Windows temp directory, a lateral movement and staging pattern used to distribute the Rhysida ransomware. Remote execution that copies binaries into windows temp is characteristic of hands-on ransomware deployment across hosts.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1570 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Ransomware Fan-Out Deployment via PsExec Spread (Qilin)

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Windows rundll32.exe execution with no parameters or arguments

Windows Service Installation (EID 4697) for SMB PsExec by Metasploit or Impacket

Suspicious SMB Admin Share Mapping for Lateral Tool Transfer (via process_creation)

Suspicious Impacket Remote Execution Tool Usage via process_creation

Malicious BlackCat Munchkin Controller Execution via process_creation

Suspicious OpenSSH Reverse Tunnel Creation via Process Creation

Suspicious DCOM Command Execution with Output Redirection to ADMIN Share

Suspicious PsExec Copying Payload To Windows Temp (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1570 · 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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