Windows: msdeploy.exe Execution with sync and RunCommand Parameters

Flags msdeploy.exe executions that include sync verb plus RunCommand source and destination parameters.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Beyu Denis, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-18
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218System Binary Proxy Execution
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies execution of msdeploy.exe when its command line includes the verb:sync along with -source:RunCommand and -dest:runCommand. Attackers may abuse this Microsoft signed binary to run or orchestrate actions via its built-in parameters, blending into legitimate administrative activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the executed image path and the full command line contents.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: msdeploy.exe Execution with sync and RunCommand Parameters

Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No 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-msdeploy-exe-executes-with-sync-verb-and-runcommand-source-destination-646bc99f

title: "Windows: msdeploy.exe Execution with sync and RunCommand Parameters"
id: 0f3dafbb-fe9d-4883-b7fe-7b9a674f4c4c
status: test
description: This rule identifies execution of msdeploy.exe when its command line includes the verb:sync along with -source:RunCommand and -dest:runCommand. Attackers may abuse this Microsoft signed binary to run or orchestrate actions via its built-in parameters, blending into legitimate administrative activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the executed image path and the full command line contents.
references:
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/OtherMSBinaries/Msdeploy/
  - https://twitter.com/pabraeken/status/995837734379032576
  - https://twitter.com/pabraeken/status/999090532839313408
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_msdeploy.yml
author: Beyu Denis, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-18
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - verb:sync
      - -source:RunCommand
      - -dest:runCommand
    Image|endswith: \msdeploy.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - System administrator Usage
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 646bc99f-6682-4b47-a73a-17b1b64c9d34
    type: derived

Convert

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