Windows: WinSCP Execution from Non-Standard Directory

Flags WinSCP started from a non-default directory on Windows to surface potential portable execution.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2025-10-12
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Exfiltration

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
- T1048Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol
Impact

What it detects

Identifies process creation where the executed binary is WinSCP (WinSCP.exe / OriginalFileName winscp.exe) from a directory other than C:\Program Files (x86)\WinSCP\. Attackers may use portable copies or unusual staging locations to blend in while leveraging legitimate tooling. This relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including Image path and OriginalFileName, to compare execution location against the expected installation directory.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1048 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Data Exfiltration via WinSCP Command Line in BlackSuit Ransomware

Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation for rclone Exfiltration by The Gentlemen RaaS (via process_creation)

Suspicious DNS Query for Tor Onion Domain

Possible DNS Tunneling via Excessively Long Query Name

Malicious Bulk Data Exfiltration via Rclone (via process_creation)

BITS Payload Downloaded via Commandline (via process_creation)

BITS Payload Downloaded via PowerShell (via powershell)

Windows: WinSCP Execution from Non-Standard Directory

Pivot detection · T1048 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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-winscp-execution-from-non-default-install-path-7674f8ef

title: "Windows: WinSCP Execution from Non-Standard Directory"
id: bad37ba9-1e12-4258-b51b-d696a4c47fff
status: experimental
description: Identifies process creation where the executed binary is WinSCP (WinSCP.exe / OriginalFileName winscp.exe) from a directory other than C:\Program Files (x86)\WinSCP\. Attackers may use portable copies or unusual staging locations to blend in while leveraging legitimate tooling. This relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including Image path and OriginalFileName, to compare execution location against the expected installation directory.
references:
  - https://blogs.blackberry.com/en/2024/07/akira-ransomware-targets-the-latam-airline-industry
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_winscp_portable_execution.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2025-10-12
tags:
  - attack.exfiltration
  - attack.t1048
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    - Image|endswith: \WinSCP.exe
    - OriginalFileName: winscp.exe
  filter_main_location:
    Image|startswith: C:\Program Files (x86)\WinSCP\
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 7674f8ef-7141-4cf0-a311-ee359264c64c
    type: derived

Convert

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