huntrule

Windows msdt.exe Creating Files in Common Startup and Public Directories

Alerts when msdt.exe writes files to high-suspicion directories that may indicate persistence after exploitation.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
file_event
Author
Vadim Varganov, Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-08-24
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

  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 file creation events where msdt.exe (msdt.exe) writes to directories commonly used for persistence or where attackers may stage payloads, including the Desktop, Startup folders, C:\PerfLogs, C:\ProgramData, and C:\Users\Public. Such activity can indicate exploitation that leverages msdt.exe to place files for follow-on execution. It relies on Windows file event telemetry capturing both the process image path and the target filename of created files.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1547.001 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Startup Folder LNK Persistence Creation via File System (via file_event)
Suspicious XWorm Persistence Run Key Pointing to Batch Loader via ScreenConnect Lure (via registry_set)
Suspicious Run Key Persistence Named AppResolver (via registry_set)
Suspicious SystemBC Persistence via Run Key to ProgramData Script
Suspicious Interlock RAT Persistence via HKCU Run Key Registration to AppData Payload (via process_creation)
Suspicious SOCKS Proxy Persistence via SystemBC PowerShell Run Key
Suspicious Run Key Persistence Referencing PowerShell Script via registry_set
Malicious Startup Persistence via WindowsDefenderSync Shortcut (via file_event)
Malicious PXA Stealer Persistence via Windows Update Service Run Key (via registry_set)
Windows msdt.exe Creating Files in Common Startup and Public Directories
Pivot detection · T1547.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.