huntrule

Windows Hotfix Inventory Recon via wmic.exe qfe

Detects wmic.exe executions with "qfe" used to enumerate installed Windows hotfixes.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-06-20
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  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 of wmic.exe when invoked with the "qfe" option to query installed hotfix (patch) information. Attackers often use this kind of system inventory during enumeration to assess patch levels and identify potential vulnerabilities. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the wmic.exe executable and the presence of the " qfe" flag in the command line.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1047 — drag to rearrange
Malicious UAT-8302 Remote Process Execution via wmic
Malicious Remote Encryptor Execution via WMIC Process Call Create (Chaos Ransomware)
Malicious Impacket Wmiexec Remote Command Execution Pattern
Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion Via WMI
Suspicious Remote Process Creation via WMIC Process Call Create (via process_creation)
Suspicious System Reconnaissance via WMI Command-Line Queries (via process_creation)
Malicious Impacket WMIexec Process Execution (via process_creation)
Suspicious Child Process Spawned by WMI Provider Host (via process_creation)
Malicious WMI Spwaning PowerShell Process - WMImplant (via process_creation)
Windows Hotfix Inventory Recon via wmic.exe qfe
Pivot detection · T1047 · 9 related

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