Suspicious Quick Format of Drive with Auto-Confirmation

PremiumReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-05-03
Updated
2026-08-28

ATT&CK techniques

Impact
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

What it detects

This rule detects the format command running a quick format with automatic yes confirmation, matching the SyncFuture helpformat routine that wiped a drive. The batch tooling formatted a non-system volume with /Q and /Y to destroy data without user interaction. Unattended quick formatting of a drive is a destructive action that can indicate data-destruction or anti-forensic intent.

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