Windows Process Creation: Detect IMEWDBLD.EXE Downloading Files via HTTP/HTTPS
Alerts when IMEWDBLD.exe runs with an HTTP/HTTPS URL, indicating arbitrary file downloads.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-11-09
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies process executions of IMEWDBLD.exe where the command line contains an http:// or https:// URL, indicating an attempt to download an arbitrary file. Such behavior is relevant because attackers can use built-in binaries to fetch and stage payloads while blending into normal process activity. Telemetry required includes Windows process creation fields that provide the executable path/name and the full command line.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1105/T1105.md#atomic-test-10---windows---powershell-download
- lolbas-project.github.iohttps://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/IMEWDBLD/
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_imewbdld_download.yml
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: Detect IMEWDBLD.EXE Downloading Files via HTTP/HTTPS"
id: 8047dc53-0ff2-46b4-9d62-7991c82b9a24
related:
- id: 8d7e392e-9b28-49e1-831d-5949c6281228
type: derived
- id: 863218bd-c7d0-4c52-80cd-0a96c09f54af
type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies process executions of IMEWDBLD.exe where the command line contains an http:// or https:// URL, indicating an attempt to download an arbitrary file. Such behavior is relevant because attackers can use built-in binaries to fetch and stage payloads while blending into normal process activity. Telemetry required includes Windows process creation fields that provide the executable path/name and the full command line.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1105/T1105.md#atomic-test-10---windows---powershell-download
- https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/IMEWDBLD/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_imewbdld_download.yml
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-11-09
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1218
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \IMEWDBLD.exe
- OriginalFileName: imewdbld.exe
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains:
- http://
- https://
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1