huntrule

Windows Devtoolslauncher.exe LaunchForDeploy Executes a Specified Binary

Alerts when devtoolslauncher.exe runs with LaunchForDeploy, indicating it may launch another binary on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Beyu Denis, oscd.community (rule), @_felamos (idea) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2019-10-12
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  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 flags process creation events where Devtoolslauncher.exe is launched with a command line containing 'LaunchForDeploy'. It can indicate an attacker using a signed Microsoft Windows binary to execute another program, supporting defense-evasion and stealthy execution. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the image path and the full command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Devtoolslauncher.exe LaunchForDeploy Executes a Specified Binary
Pivot detection · T1218 · 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.