Windows: cipher.exe Overwrites Deleted Data Using /w
Flags Windows cipher.exe runs with /w: to overwrite deleted data on disk.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2021-12-26
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
ImpactRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies Windows process executions of cipher.exe where the command line includes the /w: option, indicating overwriting of deleted data on disk. Attackers may use this to hinder recovery and disrupt availability by destroying data locally or across reachable storage. It relies on process creation telemetry, matching the process image name and the presence of the /w: parameter in the command line.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1485/T1485.md#atomic-test-3---overwrite-deleted-data-on-c-drive
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cipher_overwrite_deleted_data.yml
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: "Windows: cipher.exe Overwrites Deleted Data Using /w"
id: 24ca22c2-f355-4c8b-b3de-dd2cf69a7064
status: test
description: "This rule identifies Windows process executions of cipher.exe where the command line includes the /w: option, indicating overwriting of deleted data on disk. Attackers may use this to hinder recovery and disrupt availability by destroying data locally or across reachable storage. It relies on process creation telemetry, matching the process image name and the presence of the /w: parameter in the command line."
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1485/T1485.md#atomic-test-3---overwrite-deleted-data-on-c-drive
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cipher_overwrite_deleted_data.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-12-26
modified: 2023-02-21
tags:
- attack.impact
- attack.t1485
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- OriginalFileName: CIPHER.EXE
- Image|endswith: \cipher.exe
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains: " /w:"
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cipher_overwrite_deleted_data/info.yml
simulation:
- type: atomic-red-team
name: Overwrite deleted data on C drive
technique: T1485
atomic_guid: 321fd25e-0007-417f-adec-33232252be19
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 4b046706-5789-4673-b111-66f25fe99534
type: derived