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Windows PktMon.exe Process Execution (pktmon.exe / PktMon.exe)

Alerts on Windows executions of PktMon.exe based on process creation image name and OriginalFileName.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-03-17
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access → Discovery

  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 process creation events where an executable matching PktMon.exe is launched. Attackers may use packet-capture utilities like PktMon to support discovery, inspection, or credential-related activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable path suffix and the OriginalFileName field.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1040 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Windows Native Pktmon Sniffer Abuse (via process_creation)
Suspicious Windows Traffic Capture Abuse (via process_creation)
Malicious TCP Session Hijacking via rshijack
PowerShell Start-NetEventSession Script Block Execution Indicating Potential Network Capture (Windows)
macOS Network Sniffing Tool Execution via tcpdump or tshark
Windows Pcap Driver Installation via EID 4697 ServiceFileName
Windows Netsh.exe WLAN profile key clearing used for WiFi credential harvesting
Windows netsh Trace Start Command Execution
Windows Network Tool Use for Possible Packet Sniffing (tshark/windump)
Windows PktMon.exe Process Execution (pktmon.exe / PktMon.exe)
Pivot detection · T1040 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.