Windows Process Creation: Detect Event Log Query via wmic.exe, wevtutil.exe, or PowerShell
Detects command-line attempts to query Windows Event Logs using wevtutil, wmic, or Get-WinEvent/Get-EventLog.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Ali Alwashali, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-11-20
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Cred AccessRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags process executions on Windows where command-line parameters indicate querying the Windows event log using built-in utilities such as wevtutil.exe, wmic.exe, or PowerShell event log cmdlets. Attackers often query event logs to locate sensitive information that may be present in logged events, such as credentials, usernames, or other identifying data. It relies on process creation telemetry including the executable path/name, original file name, and command-line contents.
Reporting behind it
- learn.microsoft.comhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.diagnostics/get-winevent?view=powershell-7.3
- learn.microsoft.comhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/get-eventlog?view=powershell-5.1
- solomonson.comhttp://www.solomonson.com/posts/2010-07-09-reading-eventviewer-command-line/
- learn.microsoft.comhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wevtutil
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_susp_event_log_query.yml
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- 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 Process Creation: Detect Event Log Query via wmic.exe, wevtutil.exe, or PowerShell"
id: dc9d12c8-c41f-45fe-9282-22fe73a01467
related:
- id: beaa66d6-aa1b-4e3c-80f5-e0145369bfaf
type: derived
- id: 9cd55b6c-430a-4fa9-96f4-7cadf5229e9f
type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags process executions on Windows where command-line parameters indicate querying the Windows event log using built-in utilities such as wevtutil.exe, wmic.exe, or PowerShell event log cmdlets. Attackers often query event logs to locate sensitive information that may be present in logged events, such as credentials, usernames, or other identifying data. It relies on process creation telemetry including the executable path/name, original file name, and command-line contents.
references:
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.diagnostics/get-winevent?view=powershell-7.3
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/get-eventlog?view=powershell-5.1
- http://www.solomonson.com/posts/2010-07-09-reading-eventviewer-command-line/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wevtutil
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_susp_event_log_query.yml
author: Ali Alwashali, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-11-20
modified: 2024-01-24
tags:
- attack.t1552
- attack.credential-access
- detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
product: windows
category: process_creation
detection:
selection_wmi:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- Select
- Win32_NTLogEvent
selection_wevtutil_img:
- Image|endswith: \wevtutil.exe
- OriginalFileName: wevtutil.exe
selection_wevtutil_cli:
CommandLine|contains:
- " qe "
- " query-events "
selection_wmic_img:
- Image|endswith: \wmic.exe
- OriginalFileName: wmic.exe
selection_wmic_cli:
CommandLine|contains: " ntevent"
selection_cmdlet:
CommandLine|contains:
- "Get-WinEvent "
- "get-eventlog "
condition: selection_wmi or all of selection_wevtutil_* or all of selection_wmic_* or selection_cmdlet
falsepositives:
- Legitimate log access by administrators or troubleshooting tools
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1