Windows cmd.exe Command Line with URL and %AppData% Indicators

Alerts on cmd.exe executions whose command line includes a URL pattern (http/https) and %AppData%.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2019-01-16
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → C2

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
- T1059.003Windows Command Shell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
- T1105Ingress Tool Transfer
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process creation events where cmd.exe is launched with a command line containing both a URL pattern ("http" and "://") and a %AppData% reference. Such combinations can indicate staging or downloading behavior used by malicious droppers. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry with cmd.exe image path and command line text available for inspection.

Reporting behind it

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Windows cmd.exe Command Line with URL and %AppData% Indicators

Pivot detection · T1105 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No 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.

windows-cmd-exe-command-line-with-embedded-url-and-appdata-strings-1ac8666b

title: Windows cmd.exe Command Line with URL and %AppData% Indicators
id: 0d3ebc63-d633-4c51-80da-d4294a15c44b
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process creation events where cmd.exe is launched with a command line containing both a URL pattern ("http" and "://") and a %AppData% reference. Such combinations can indicate staging or downloading behavior used by malicious droppers. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry with cmd.exe image path and command line text available for inspection.
references:
  - https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/3a1f01206684410dbe8f1900bbeaaa543adfcd07368ba646b499fa5274b9edf6?environmentId=100
  - https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/f16c729aad5c74f19784a24257236a8bbe27f7cdc4a89806031ec7f1bebbd475?environmentId=100
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cmd_http_appdata.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2019-01-16
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.command-and-control
  - attack.t1059.003
  - attack.t1059.001
  - attack.t1105
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: \cmd.exe
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - http
      - ://
      - "%AppData%"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - High
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1ac8666b-046f-4201-8aba-1951aaec03a3
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

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