huntrule

Windows: MSPUB.EXE Downloading Arbitrary Files via HTTP/FTP URIs

Flags MSPUB.EXE executions with HTTP/FTP URLs that may indicate arbitrary file downloads.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-08-19
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  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 identifies process executions of Microsoft Publisher (MSPUB.EXE) where the command line contains HTTP or FTP URLs, indicating an attempt to download an arbitrary file. Attackers can use trusted Windows applications to blend in with normal activity while retrieving payloads or secondary content. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the executable path/name and the full command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: MSPUB.EXE Downloading Arbitrary Files via HTTP/FTP URIs
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.