Windows: Detect Named Pipe Creation with Koh Default Names

Alerts on Windows named pipe creation with Koh default identifiers in the pipe name.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v2

Product: windows
Category: pipe_created
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-07-08
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1134.001Token Impersonation/Theft
Defense Evasion
- T1134.001Token Impersonation/Theft
Cred Access
- T1528Steal Application Access Token
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of named pipes whose names contain the Koh default substrings '\imposecost' and '\imposingcost'. Named pipes can be used by offensive tooling to establish stealthy inter-process communication, including for post-exploitation actions. Telemetry required is Windows named pipe creation events (e.g., Sysmon named pipe events) that include the PipeName field.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1528 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious GAM OAuth Token Enumeration via Process Creation

Suspicious Entra ID Device Code Flow Authentication

Suspicious Delegated Permission Grant to Entra Agent Access Scope via Azure Audit Logs

Masquerading Cobalt Strike GetSystem Named-Pipe Impersonation Pattern (via process_creation)

Suspicious OAuth Application Registration with Localhost Reply URL via Azure AD

Malicious Named Pipe kesknq for Token Impersonation (via pipe_created)

Malicious PRT Token Forging via AADInternals (via ps_script)

Windows: Detect Named Pipe Creation with Koh Default Names

Pivot detection · T1528 · 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-detect-koh-default-named-pipe-creation-by-pipe-name-0adc67e0

title: "Windows: Detect Named Pipe Creation with Koh Default Names"
id: fb5e2fa3-f95c-4bf5-b7bc-b42b63d4f243
status: test
description: This rule detects creation of named pipes whose names contain the Koh default substrings '\imposecost' and '\imposingcost'. Named pipes can be used by offensive tooling to establish stealthy inter-process communication, including for post-exploitation actions. Telemetry required is Windows named pipe creation events (e.g., Sysmon named pipe events) that include the PipeName field.
references:
  - https://github.com/GhostPack/Koh/blob/0283d9f3f91cf74732ad377821986cfcb088e20a/Clients/BOF/KohClient.c#L12
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/pipe_created/pipe_created_hktl_koh_default_pipe.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-07-08
modified: 2023-08-07
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1528
  - attack.t1134.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: pipe_created
  definition: Note that you have to configure logging for Named Pipe Events in Sysmon config (Event ID 17 and Event ID 18). The basic configuration is in popular sysmon configuration (https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config), but it is worth verifying. You can also use other repo, e.g. https://github.com/Neo23x0/sysmon-config, https://github.com/olafhartong/sysmon-modular. How to test detection? You can check powershell script from this site https://svch0st.medium.com/guide-to-named-pipes-and-hunting-for-cobalt-strike-pipes-dc46b2c5f575
detection:
  selection:
    PipeName|contains:
      - \imposecost
      - \imposingcost
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: critical
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 0adc67e0-a68f-4ffd-9c43-28905aad5d6a
    type: derived

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