Windows Named Pipe Created for CSExec Default Pipe Name
Alerts on Windows named pipe creations with pipe names containing \csexecsvc, matching CSExec’s default pipe.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- pipe_created
- Author
- Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-08-07
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → Lateral MovementRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies the creation of Windows named pipes whose name contains the default CSExec service marker (\csexecsvc). Attackers may use CSExec-style named pipes for command execution and lateral movement, making pipe creation telemetry a useful indicator. The rule relies on Windows named pipe creation events (e.g., Sysmon Event ID 17/18) that include the pipe name for pattern matching.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: Windows Named Pipe Created for CSExec Default Pipe Name
id: a5ec1f40-9b5a-4768-bd68-978955b4078f
related:
- id: 9e77ed63-2ecf-4c7b-b09d-640834882028
type: obsolete
- id: f318b911-ea88-43f4-9281-0de23ede628e
type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies the creation of Windows named pipes whose name contains the default CSExec service marker (\csexecsvc). Attackers may use CSExec-style named pipes for command execution and lateral movement, making pipe creation telemetry a useful indicator. The rule relies on Windows named pipe creation events (e.g., Sysmon Event ID 17/18) that include the pipe name for pattern matching.
references:
- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lKya3_mLnR3UQuCoiYruO3qgu052_iS_/view
- https://github.com/malcomvetter/CSExec
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/pipe_created/pipe_created_pua_csexec_default_pipe.yml
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-08-07
modified: 2023-11-30
tags:
- attack.lateral-movement
- attack.t1021.002
- attack.execution
- attack.t1569.002
logsource:
product: windows
category: pipe_created
definition: Note that you have to configure logging for Named Pipe Events in Sysmon config (Event ID 17 and Event ID 18). The basic configuration is in popular sysmon configuration (https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config), but it is worth verifying. You can also use other repo, e.g. https://github.com/Neo23x0/sysmon-config, https://github.com/olafhartong/sysmon-modular. How to test detection? You can check powershell script from this site https://svch0st.medium.com/guide-to-named-pipes-and-hunting-for-cobalt-strike-pipes-dc46b2c5f575
detection:
selection:
PipeName|contains: \csexecsvc
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate Administrator activity
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1