Suspicious Remote File Download Through Desktopimgdownldr Utility (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Remote File Download Through Desktopimgdownldr Utility (via process_creation)
id: a1a074ca-ebbc-5352-943a-539964185ab4
status: stable
description: This rule detects the desktopimgdownldr utility being used to download a remote file. An adversary may use desktopimgdownldr to download arbitrary files as an alternative to certutil.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1105/
    - https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/remote-file-download-via-desktopimgdownldr-utility.html
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-06-15
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1105
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\desktopimgdownldr.exe'
        ParentImage|endswith: '\desktopimgdownldr.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: '/lockscreenurl:http'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium