huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Rubeus HackTool Execution Indicators

Flags Windows process executions of Rubeus.exe when command lines include Kerberos attack-related actions.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2018-12-19
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion → Lateral Movement

  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 execution of the Rubeus executable by matching process creation telemetry to Rubeus binary characteristics and specific Kerberos-related command-line parameters. Attackers commonly use Rubeus for credential access and ticket manipulation, so spotting these argument patterns helps detect abuse even when the executable name varies. The detection relies on Windows process creation fields such as Image, OriginalFileName, Description, and CommandLine substring matches.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1003 — drag to rearrange
Rubeus HackTool Execution via PowerShell ScriptBlock Flags (Windows)
Windows: Detect KrbRelayUp.exe HackTool Process Execution
Malicious Wdigest Authentication Enabled - Reg via Command (via process_creation)
Malicious Diskshadow Command Abuse to Expose VSS Backup (via process_creation)
Malicious Kerberos Ticket File Creation Indicating Credential Theft (via file_event)
Malicious IIS Application Pool Credential Dumping (via process_creation)
Malicious Wdigest Authentication Enabled - Registry (via registry_set)
Suspicious Kerberoasting via setspn Service Principal Query
Masquerading Kerberos Ticket Abuse via Rubeus (via process_creation)
Windows Process Creation: Rubeus HackTool Execution Indicators
Pivot detection · T1003 · 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.