Suspicious Shell Process Spawned by Java.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Shell Process Spawned by Java.EXE (via process_creation)
id: aaee505e-6db8-598a-8188-dfc6a3375799
status: stable
description: This rule detects shell spawned from Java host process, which could be a sign of exploitation (e.g. log4j exploitation)
references:
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20231230220738/https://www.lunasec.io/docs/blog/log4j-zero-day/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-02-25
tags:
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1190
    - attack.t1059
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\java.exe'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\bash.exe'
            - '\cmd.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
    filter_main_build:
        ParentImage|contains: 'build'
        CommandLine|contains: 'build'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium