Windows 7-Zip Extracts Password-Protected Archives via 7z/7za/7zr

title: Windows 7-Zip Extracts Password-Protected Archives via 7z/7za/7zr
id: 0da3eab4-b114-485f-ab90-1f572c02e169
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process executions of 7-Zip (7z.exe, 7za.exe, or 7zr.exe) where the command line contains patterns consistent with extracting a password-protected archive (includes " -p", " x ", and " -o"). Attackers may use compressed archives with passwords to evade casual inspection while still staging or deploying files after extraction. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry fields including the executable image/filename and the full command line.
references:
  - https://blog.cyble.com/2022/06/07/bumblebee-loader-on-the-rise/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_7zip_password_extraction.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-03-10
modified: 2026-06-05
tags:
  - attack.collection
  - attack.t1560.001
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Description|contains: 7-Zip
    - Image|endswith:
        - \7z.exe
        - \7za.exe
        - \7zr.exe
    - OriginalFileName:
        - 7z.exe
        - 7za.exe
        - 7zr.exe
  selection_password:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - " -p"
      - " x "
      - " -o"
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate activity is expected since extracting files with a password can be common in some environment.
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b717b8fd-6467-4d7d-b3d3-27f9a463af77
    type: derived