Windows Print Executable Misuse via print.exe Command-Line

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 executions of print.exe where the command line starts with "print" and includes both "/D" and ".exe", excluding cases where the command line contains the literal "print.exe". Such usage can indicate attackers leveraging the Windows print utility to copy or stage files remotely under the guise of a legitimate binary. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically Image path and CommandLine content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Cabinet Extraction of Masqueraded vstm Archive via extrac32

Malicious DLL Execution via Wuauclt Update Handler (via process_creation)

Malicious aspnet_compiler.exe Injection Host Spawned by PowerShell via process_creation

Malicious regsvcs LOLBin Loading Ransomware DLL from UNC Path

Suspicious RegAsm or RegSvcs Spawned by Script Host (via process_creation)

Suspicious Extexport DLL Side-Loading Execution

Malicious ClickFix Execution Chain Spawning MSHTA via Pcalua on EtherRAT Infection

Suspicious TALONITE Certutil LOLBIN Decode and Download Abuse (via process_creation)

Suspicious Renamed git Binary gcmd.exe Execution (via process_creation)

Windows Print Executable Misuse via print.exe Command-Line

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.

windows-print-executable-misuse-via-print-exe-command-line-bafac3d6

title: Windows Print Executable Misuse via print.exe Command-Line
id: 59fb93f9-f7d5-4efc-9bdc-bbe429058612
status: test
description: This rule identifies process executions of print.exe where the command line starts with "print" and includes both "/D" and ".exe", excluding cases where the command line contains the literal "print.exe". Such usage can indicate attackers leveraging the Windows print utility to copy or stage files remotely under the guise of a legitimate binary. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically Image path and CommandLine content.
references:
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Print/
  - https://twitter.com/Oddvarmoe/status/985518877076541440
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_print_remote_file_copy.yml
author: Furkan CALISKAN, @caliskanfurkan_, @oscd_initiative, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-05
modified: 2022-07-07
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: \print.exe
    CommandLine|startswith: print
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - /D
      - .exe
  filter_print:
    CommandLine|contains: print.exe
  condition: selection and not filter_print
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: bafac3d6-7de9-4dd9-8874-4a1194b493ed
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL