Suspicious Webshell Deployment in DNN DesktopModules Directory

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
file_event
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-23
Updated
2026-09-23

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  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 creation of ASP.NET handler (.ashx) files inside the DotNetNuke DesktopModules directory, a webshell staging location used by the FamousSparrow group for initial access and persistence on IIS servers. Web-facing handler files written into CMS module folders commonly represent server-side backdoors enabling remote command execution.

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