Windows: Indirect execution of pcwrun.exe using path traversal-style command line content

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 process creation where the executable name ends with pcwrun.exe and the command line contains '../', indicating indirect or crafted execution behavior. Attackers may abuse Program Compatibility Assistant components to execute actions through unexpected command-line arguments. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation events capturing the image path and full command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Indirect execution of pcwrun.exe using path traversal-style command line content

Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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-pcwrun-exe-indirect-command-execution-via-path-traversal-6004abd0

title: "Windows: Indirect execution of pcwrun.exe using path traversal-style command line content"
id: 0fd819ba-dd2e-4457-b377-66c29671dd02
status: test
description: This rule identifies process creation where the executable name ends with pcwrun.exe and the command line contains '../', indicating indirect or crafted execution behavior. Attackers may abuse Program Compatibility Assistant components to execute actions through unexpected command-line arguments. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation events capturing the image path and full command line.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/nas_bench/status/1535663791362519040
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_pcwrun_follina.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-06-13
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
  - attack.execution
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: \pcwrun.exe
    CommandLine|contains: ../
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 6004abd0-afa4-4557-ba90-49d172e0a299
    type: derived

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