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 Remote Process Creation via WMIC Process Call Create (via process_creation)
Suspicious System Reconnaissance via WMI Command-Line Queries (via process_creation)
Malicious Impacket WMIexec Process Execution (via process_creation)
Suspicious Child Process Spawned by WMI Provider Host (via process_creation)
Malicious WMI Spwaning PowerShell Process - WMImplant (via process_creation)
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.