Windows: Adplus.exe Execution with Memory Dump and Command Options

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1003.001LSASS Memory
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies execution of Adplus.exe when command-line arguments indicate process memory dumping and inline command execution. Attackers can abuse this Windows SDK binary (LOLBIN) to access sensitive process memory and run arbitrary commands through supported flags. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry including the image path and the full command line parameters.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Adplus.exe Execution with Memory Dump and Command Options

Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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-detect-execution-of-adplus-exe-with-memory-dump-and-inline-command-switc-2f869d59

title: "Windows: Adplus.exe Execution with Memory Dump and Command Options"
id: b82efbd2-1ca7-481b-955d-6138fa02826c
status: test
description: This rule identifies execution of Adplus.exe when command-line arguments indicate process memory dumping and inline command execution. Attackers can abuse this Windows SDK binary (LOLBIN) to access sensitive process memory and run arbitrary commands through supported flags. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry including the image path and the full command line parameters.
references:
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/OtherMSBinaries/Adplus/
  - https://twitter.com/nas_bench/status/1534916659676422152
  - https://twitter.com/nas_bench/status/1534915321856917506
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_adplus_memory_dump.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-06-09
modified: 2023-06-23
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \adplus.exe
    - OriginalFileName: Adplus.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " -hang "
      - " -pn "
      - " -pmn "
      - " -p "
      - " -po "
      - " -c "
      - " -sc "
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate usage of Adplus for debugging purposes
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 2f869d59-7f6a-4931-992c-cce556ff2d53
    type: derived

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