Suspicious Python Execution from Hidden Downloads Python Folder

PremiumReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-21
Updated
2026-09-21

ATT&CK techniques

Execution
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Persistence

  5. Priv Esc

  6. Defense Evasion

  7. Cred Access

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. Collection

  11. C2

  12. Exfiltration

  13. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a Python interpreter running scripts out of a hidden Downloads Python directory used by the Quartet loader. The campaign staged its interpreter and payloads in concealed Downloads subfolders to persist and execute the RAT quartet. Python launched from this hidden staging path is not normal developer activity.

Related detections9 linkedT1059.006 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Python Loader Execution from Public Directory
Suspicious Python Executing Staged Script From Temp Directory via DPRK Pyperclip Loader
Suspicious KANDYKORN Python Loader Execution via Process Creation
Suspicious Wscript Spawning Embedded Python Interpreter (via process_creation)
Suspicious Child Process Spawned by Python Interpreter via Process Creation
Suspicious Kimsuky Python Backdoor Staging in Winii Directory (via file_event)
SynkLoader Python Stager Execution from AppData via pythonw (via process_creation)
Malicious TeamPCP durabletask Payload python3 managed.pyz from tmp (via process_creation)
Suspicious Python Startup .pth File Creation for Interpreter Persistence
Suspicious Python Execution from Hidden Downloads Python Folder
Pivot detection · T1059.006 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.