Windows: Inline PHP execution via php.exe -r flag
Flags Windows process executions of php.exe with the inline "-r" code execution flag.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-01-02
- Updated
- 2026-07-30
ATT&CK techniques
ExecutionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies process creation events where php.exe is executed with the inline code flag "-r". Attackers may use this to run PHP code immediately without writing a separate script file, which can support rapid command execution and follow-on actions. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the php.exe image (including filename indicators) and the presence of " -r" in the command line.
Reporting behind it
- php.nethttps://www.php.net/manual/en/features.commandline.php
- revshells.comhttps://www.revshells.com/
- pentestmonkey.nethttps://pentestmonkey.net/cheat-sheet/shells/reverse-shell-cheat-sheet
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_php_inline_command_execution.yml
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: "Windows: Inline PHP execution via php.exe -r flag"
id: 3c7738cc-8976-4bde-873c-b5436e902ab0
status: test
description: This rule identifies process creation events where php.exe is executed with the inline code flag "-r". Attackers may use this to run PHP code immediately without writing a separate script file, which can support rapid command execution and follow-on actions. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the php.exe image (including filename indicators) and the presence of " -r" in the command line.
references:
- https://www.php.net/manual/en/features.commandline.php
- https://www.revshells.com/
- https://pentestmonkey.net/cheat-sheet/shells/reverse-shell-cheat-sheet
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_php_inline_command_execution.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-01-02
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.t1059
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \php.exe
- OriginalFileName: php.exe
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains: " -r"
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: d81871ef-5738-47ab-9797-7a9c90cd4bfb
type: derived