huntrule

Windows: Application Uninstall via WMIC.exe (WMIC call uninstall)

Flags WMIC.exe commands that include "call" and "uninstall," indicating potential application removal on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-01-28
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  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

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies Windows processes where WMIC.exe is used to uninstall or remove an application by executing a command containing both "call" and "uninstall." Attackers may use this technique to eliminate installed software, including security tools, or to stage changes that hinder investigation. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the image/filename for WMIC.exe and correlating required command-line substrings.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Impacket Style Command Execution with ADMIN Share Output Redirect
Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion via WMIC via Process Creation (via process_creation)
Suspicious System Reconnaissance Output Redirected to PDF File (via process_creation)
Suspicious Phantom Taurus mssq.bat SQL Execution via WMI (via process_creation)
Malicious Antivirus Removal via WMIC Product Uninstall
Suspicious Remote Process Creation via WMIC by Mallox
Malicious Akira Shadow Copy Deletion via PowerShell WMI (via process_creation)
Suspicious Sysinternals EULA Acceptance Registry Write Linked to INC Ransomware
Windows: Application Uninstall via WMIC.exe (WMIC call uninstall)
Pivot detection · T1047 · 9 related

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