huntrule

Windows: Execution of .xbap via PresentationHost.exe from Uncommon Paths

Alerts when PresentationHost.exe launches a .xbap file from a non-standard location on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-07-01
Updated
2026-07-30
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 PresentationHost.exe is used to launch a .xbap file from a path that is not in common Windows or Program Files locations. Attackers can use this legitimate browser application host to run malicious .xbap content while blending in with normal signed binaries. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, matching PresentationHost.exe by image/original filename and looking for .xbap in the command line, with path exclusions to reduce expected benign activity.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Execution of .xbap via PresentationHost.exe from Uncommon Paths
Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.