Windows Process Creation: Cobalt Strike module/command strings entered in cmd.exe

Alerts when cmd.exe command lines include Cobalt Strike module/command strings.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: _pete_0, TheDFIRReport (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-05-06
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

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

What it detects

This rule flags Windows command-line activity where cmd.exe execution includes specific strings associated with common Cobalt Strike modules or related command invocations. Such inputs indicate a likely operator mistake or testing behavior that nonetheless matches suspicious tooling usage patterns. It relies on process creation telemetry with the image path ending in cmd.exe and the full command line containing one or more of the listed substrings.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Creation: Cobalt Strike module/command strings entered in cmd.exe

Pivot detection · T1059.003 · 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-command-line-contains-cobalt-strike-module-commands-entered-in-cmd-exe-4f154fb6

title: "Windows Process Creation: Cobalt Strike module/command strings entered in cmd.exe"
id: 56ba3d8c-cbd8-4df7-979c-7d9df5484661
related:
  - id: 647c7b9e-d784-4fda-b9a0-45c565a7b729
    type: similar
  - id: 4f154fb6-27d1-4813-a759-78b93e0b9c48
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows command-line activity where cmd.exe execution includes specific strings associated with common Cobalt Strike modules or related command invocations. Such inputs indicate a likely operator mistake or testing behavior that nonetheless matches suspicious tooling usage patterns. It relies on process creation telemetry with the image path ending in cmd.exe and the full command line containing one or more of the listed substrings.
references:
  - https://hstechdocs.helpsystems.com/manuals/cobaltstrike/current/userguide/content/cobalt-4-5-user-guide.pdf
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/10/04/bazarloader-and-the-conti-leaks/
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/06/16/sans-ransomware-summit-2022-can-you-detect-this/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_hktl_cobaltstrike_bloopers_modules.yml
author: _pete_0, TheDFIRReport, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-05-06
modified: 2023-01-30
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.003
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - OriginalFileName: Cmd.Exe
    - Image|endswith: \cmd.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - Invoke-UserHunter
      - Invoke-ShareFinder
      - Invoke-Kerberoast
      - Invoke-SMBAutoBrute
      - Invoke-Nightmare
      - zerologon
      - av_query
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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