Windows Process Creation: curl Uploads to File-Sharing Domains
Detects curl commands on Windows uploading files to common file sharing/upload domains.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2026-03-29
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
ExfiltrationRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags Windows process creation where curl is invoked and the command line references known file-sharing or upload domains. Such activity may indicate data exfiltration or staging of files through public hosting services. It relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the image path or original filename for curl and command-line content containing targeted upload domains and common curl upload-related flags.
Reporting behind it
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 Process Creation: curl Uploads to File-Sharing Domains"
id: e5dcf411-e207-4f23-9f3f-752de0826014
related:
- id: 00bca14a-df4e-4649-9054-3f2aa676bc04
type: derived
- id: 7d1aaf3d-4304-425c-b7c3-162055e0b3ab
type: similar
- id: e328cc73-f92a-42fb-b3fa-7c2cffda981a
type: derived
status: experimental
description: This rule flags Windows process creation where curl is invoked and the command line references known file-sharing or upload domains. Such activity may indicate data exfiltration or staging of files through public hosting services. It relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the image path or original filename for curl and command-line content containing targeted upload domains and common curl upload-related flags.
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
references:
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/advanced-backdoor-squidoor/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_curl_upload_file_sharing_websites.yml
date: 2026-03-29
tags:
- attack.exfiltration
- attack.t1567.002
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \curl.exe
- OriginalFileName: curl.exe
selection_cli_domain:
CommandLine|contains:
- 0x0.st
- bashupload.com
- chunk.io
- file.io
- filebin.net
- pastebin
- send.firefox.com
- temp.sh
- transfer.sh
- ufile.io
- uploadfiles.io
- wetransfer.com
- x0.at
selection_cli_flags:
- CommandLine|contains:
- " --form"
- " --upload-file"
- " --data"
- " -X POST"
- " --request POST "
- CommandLine|re:
- \s-[FTd]\s
- \s-sT\s
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Legitimate file uploads to these services by administrators or developers
level: high
license: DRL-1.1