Windows Process Execution: Suspicious cmd.exe Command-Line Combinations (Pikabot-like)
Alerts on cmd.exe /c command chains containing download/delay and rundll32 indicators consistent with Pikabot-like staging.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Alejandro Houspanossian ('@lekz86') (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2024-01-02
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → C2Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies Windows process creation where cmd.exe is invoked with /c alongside common chained-command patterns and tool usage consistent with staged payload execution. Attackers often use concatenated shell commands to download secondary components, introduce delays, and execute additional code, making such command-line strings a useful detection signal. It relies on process creation telemetry with the full CommandLine field to match for cmd /c plus specific embedded command substrings and chaining operators.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/pr0xylife/Pikabot/blob/7f7723a74ca325ec54c6e61e076acce9a4b20538/Pikabot_30.10.2023.txt
- github.comhttps://github.com/pr0xylife/Pikabot/blob/7f7723a74ca325ec54c6e61e076acce9a4b20538/Pikabot_22.12.2023.txt
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2023/Malware/Pikabot/proc_creation_win_malware_pikabot_combined_commands_execution.yml
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- 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 Process Execution: Suspicious cmd.exe Command-Line Combinations (Pikabot-like)"
id: 5e53c646-8ce6-4af2-b078-40cba2bbc484
status: test
description: This rule identifies Windows process creation where cmd.exe is invoked with /c alongside common chained-command patterns and tool usage consistent with staged payload execution. Attackers often use concatenated shell commands to download secondary components, introduce delays, and execute additional code, making such command-line strings a useful detection signal. It relies on process creation telemetry with the full CommandLine field to match for cmd /c plus specific embedded command substrings and chaining operators.
references:
- https://github.com/pr0xylife/Pikabot/blob/7f7723a74ca325ec54c6e61e076acce9a4b20538/Pikabot_30.10.2023.txt
- https://github.com/pr0xylife/Pikabot/blob/7f7723a74ca325ec54c6e61e076acce9a4b20538/Pikabot_22.12.2023.txt
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2023/Malware/Pikabot/proc_creation_win_malware_pikabot_combined_commands_execution.yml
author: Alejandro Houspanossian ('@lekz86'), Huntrule Team
date: 2024-01-02
tags:
- attack.command-and-control
- attack.execution
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1059.003
- attack.t1105
- attack.t1218
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
product: windows
category: process_creation
detection:
selection_cmd:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- cmd
- /c
selection_pipes:
CommandLine|contains:
- " & "
- " || "
selection_commands_1:
CommandLine|contains:
- " curl"
- " wget"
- " timeout "
- " ping "
selection_commands_2:
CommandLine|contains:
- " rundll32"
- " mkdir "
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: e5144106-8198-4f6e-bfc2-0a551cc8dd94
type: derived