Windows Process Command Lines Referencing Dot-Suffixed File Names

Alerts on Windows process executions whose command lines reference file-path strings ending with a dot.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-10-28
Updated
2026-07-31

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process creation events where the command line contains a pattern resembling a dotted file reference in the form \<alphanumeric\>{1,32}.\<alphanumeric\>{1,6}. followed by a quoted character. Attackers may use dotted-path or filename schemes to trigger or stage payload activity, and this behavior can be seen in observed malware command lines. The detection relies on process_creation telemetry with access to the full CommandLine string.

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. 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.