Windows: File Download via msedge_proxy.exe Using HTTP/HTTPS URLs

Flags msedge_proxy.exe executions that include HTTP/HTTPS URLs, consistent with arbitrary file downloads.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-11-09
Updated
2026-07-30

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Cred Access

  8. Discovery

  9. Lateral Movement

  10. Collection

  11. C2

  12. Exfiltration

  13. Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies Windows process executions of msedge_proxy.exe where the command line includes http:// and https://, indicating an attempt to download an arbitrary file. Downloading via a trusted proxy binary can help attackers blend in with normal browser-adjacent activity and reduce suspicion. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, matching the executable name/path and the presence of HTTP/HTTPS in the command line.

Related detections9 linkedT1218 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious .NET LOLBin Execution via CasPol or RegAsm
Possible DarkGate DLL Sideloading via iTunesHelper Loading CoreFoundation
Suspicious extrac32 CAB Extraction Abuse
Malicious cdb.exe Masquerading as fontdrvhost in ProgramData (via process_creation)
Malicious certutil Decodehex Payload Reconstruction by DarkGate
Malicious MSIX Package Execution via App Installer ms-appinstaller Protocol (via process_creation)
Malicious ViPNet Backdoor Loader via lumpdiag.exe Path Substitution
Suspicious BitLockerToGo Execution from Unusual Parent
Suspicious Proxy Execution via pcalua
Windows: File Download via msedge_proxy.exe Using HTTP/HTTPS URLs
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.