Windows File Creation Indicators Linked to Diamond Sleet Artifacts
Flags Windows file creations under \ProgramData matching specific payload component filename indicators.
FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5
- Product
- windows
- Category
- file_event
- Author
- Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-10-24
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
What it detects
This rule flags Windows file creation events where the target filename ends with specific paths commonly associated with Diamond Sleet activity, including executables and DLLs under ProgramData. Attackers may use these file drops to stage payloads, establish persistence, or support execution. The detection relies on Windows file event telemetry that includes the created target filename and path so suffix matches can be evaluated.
Reporting behind it
- microsoft.comhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/10/18/multiple-north-korean-threat-actors-exploiting-the-teamcity-cve-2023-42793-vulnerability/
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2023/TA/Diamond-Sleet/file_event_win_apt_diamond_sleet_indicators.yml
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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-file-creation-indicators-for-programdata-payloads-e1212b32
title: Windows File Creation Indicators Linked to Diamond Sleet Artifacts
id: a02db307-e50e-4974-a840-2a13ecea4800
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows file creation events where the target filename ends with specific paths commonly associated with Diamond Sleet activity, including executables and DLLs under ProgramData. Attackers may use these file drops to stage payloads, establish persistence, or support execution. The detection relies on Windows file event telemetry that includes the created target filename and path so suffix matches can be evaluated.
references:
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/10/18/multiple-north-korean-threat-actors-exploiting-the-teamcity-cve-2023-42793-vulnerability/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2023/TA/Diamond-Sleet/file_event_win_apt_diamond_sleet_indicators.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-10-24
tags:
- attack.execution
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
category: file_event
product: windows
detection:
selection:
TargetFilename|endswith:
- :\ProgramData\4800-84DC-063A6A41C5C
- :\ProgramData\clip.exe
- :\ProgramData\DSROLE.dll
- :\ProgramData\Forest64.exe
- :\ProgramData\readme.md
- :\ProgramData\Version.dll
- :\ProgramData\wsmprovhost.exe
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: e1212b32-55ff-4dfb-a595-62b572248056
type: derived