huntrule

Windows Backup File Deletion Triggered by CLI or Script Hosts

Alerts when cmd.exe, PowerShell, wt.exe, rundll32.exe, or regsvr32.exe delete files with backup-oriented filename extensions.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
file_delete
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-01-02
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies deletion activity where a process invoked via cmd.exe, PowerShell, pwsh, wt.exe, rundll32.exe, or regsvr32.exe targets files with backup-related extensions. Attackers may remove or disrupt backup artifacts to hinder system recovery and reduce the chance of restoring from known-good data. Telemetry relies on Windows process execution context and file deletion events capturing Image and TargetFilename with the specified extensions.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1490 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Mass Hyper-V Virtual Machine Shutdown via PowerShell by Kraken Ransomware
Suspicious Shadow Copy Deletion via Vssadmin by Kraken Ransomware
Malicious Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin or WMIC
Malicious Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin
Suspicious Free Space Wipe via cipher.exe
Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion Via WMI
Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin or wmic
Malicious Inhibit System Recovery via Backup and Shadow Copy Deletion (via process_creation)
Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin
Windows Backup File Deletion Triggered by CLI or Script Hosts
Pivot detection · T1490 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.