huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Add-PrinterPort Commands with Suspicious File Paths

Flags suspicious Add-PrinterPort usage referencing .exe/.dll/.bat or “Generic / Text Only” in Windows process command lines.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
EagleEye Team, Florian Roth (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-05-13
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  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 Windows command-line activity that adds printer ports via Add-PrinterPort -Name when the command line includes executable, DLL, or batch file extensions. It also matches printer port creation commands containing the string "Generic / Text Only." These behaviors can matter because attackers may abuse printer port configuration to trigger execution or persistence using crafted targets. The detection relies on process creation telemetry and string matching on the process command line.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange
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Malicious Metasploit Stager Delivery via mshta Remote HTA (via process_creation)
Suspicious PowerShell Download of Disguised Payload to ProgramData
Suspicious PowerShell WebClient Download of Executable Payload
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Suspicious PsExec Service Launching Encoded PowerShell Payload
Suspicious PowerShell Remote Script Execution via IEX DownloadString
Malicious SharePoint ToolShell Post-Exploitation via Encoded PowerShell (via process_creation)
Suspicious In-Memory PowerShell Execution from Web Server via Automation Assembly (via image_load)
Windows Process Creation: Add-PrinterPort Commands with Suspicious File Paths
Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

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.