Windows Named Pipe Creation with "\coerced\" PipeName Segment

Detects Windows named pipe creations where the pipe name contains the '\coerced\' pattern.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
pipe_created
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-10-11
Updated
2026-07-31
title: Windows Named Pipe Creation with "\coerced\" PipeName Segment
id: f2de4ecd-e2b1-46ab-8ecc-b0fd66d0db74
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows named pipe creation events where the PipeName contains the specific substring "\coerced\". Such naming patterns can indicate usage of tools or behaviors associated with coercion-based privilege escalation and related stealth techniques. It relies on telemetry from Windows named pipe creation logging, such as Sysmon named pipe event monitoring.
references:
  - https://blog.hackvens.fr/articles/CoercedPotato.html
  - https://github.com/hackvens/CoercedPotato
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/pipe_created/pipe_created_hktl_coercedpotato.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-10-11
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1055
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: \coerced\
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 4d0083b3-580b-40da-9bba-626c19fe4033
    type: derived