Windows CMD for /f Tokens= with Recursive Dir Listing

Flags cmd.exe for /f loops using tokens= with recursive dir enumeration in the command line and parent.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Joseliyo Sanchez, @Joseliyo_Jstnk (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2025-11-12
Updated: 2026-07-30

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.003Windows Command Shell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1027.010Command Obfuscation
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process creation events where cmd.exe command lines include a for /f loop with tokens= and an in ( dir ... ) style recursive directory listing pattern. Such command-line composition can be used to dynamically enumerate files and drive subsequent actions, which is a common step in stealthy execution chains. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the full command line for both the process and its parent.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.003 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious IP Release and Renew via Minimized cmd During Driver Install

Malicious IIS Worker Spawning nslookup via WS_FTP Deserialization

Malicious Metasploit Reverse Shell Injection in SQL Server (via process_creation)

Suspicious Fake Crypto Wallet Installer Batch Script Staging (via file_event)

Obfuscated Encoded PowerShell Payload Deployed via Process Execution (via process_creation)

Operator Bloopers Cobalt Strike Modules

Malicious KB Document Masqueraded Executable Spawned by Script Interpreter via RoKRAT Loader (via process_creation)

Malicious SCMBanker ClickFix Payload Fetch via Curl Piped to Cmd

Malicious Payload Assembly via MZ Header Prepend and copy Concatenation (via process_creation)

Windows CMD for /f Tokens= with Recursive Dir Listing

Pivot detection · T1059.003 · 9 related

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

windows-cmd-for-f-tokens-with-recursive-dir-listing-2782fbd8

title: Windows CMD for /f Tokens= with Recursive Dir Listing
id: b7cc34a9-c828-4522-a6c5-afee9cac05c7
status: experimental
description: This rule flags process creation events where cmd.exe command lines include a for /f loop with tokens= and an in ( dir ... ) style recursive directory listing pattern. Such command-line composition can be used to dynamically enumerate files and drive subsequent actions, which is a common step in stealthy execution chains. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the full command line for both the process and its parent.
references:
  - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/29837d0d3202758063185828c8f8d9e0b7b42b365c8941cc926d2d7c7bae2fb3
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_susp_cmd_for_loop_execution_with_recursive_directory_search.yml
author: Joseliyo Sanchez, @Joseliyo_Jstnk, Huntrule Team
date: 2025-11-12
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1059.003
  - attack.t1027.010
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_tokens:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - for /f
      - tokens=
      - in (
      - dir
  selection_tokens_parent:
    ParentCommandLine|contains|all:
      - for /f
      - tokens=
      - in (
      - dir
  condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 2782fbd8-b662-4eb5-9962-5bfbfb671e7b
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL