Windows Process Execution of BitLockerToGo.EXE

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 flags process creation events where the executed image path ends with BitLockerToGo.exe. BitLocker To Go is used to encrypt removable drives, so unexpected launches are worth investigating for potential abuse. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry that records the process image name or path.

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 Process Execution of BitLockerToGo.EXE

Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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.

windows-process-creation-bitlockertogo-exe-execution-7f2376f9

title: Windows Process Execution of BitLockerToGo.EXE
id: bc75b85f-1712-4b91-b304-68ea5057eb12
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation events where the executed image path ends with BitLockerToGo.exe. BitLocker To Go is used to encrypt removable drives, so unexpected launches are worth investigating for potential abuse. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry that records the process image name or path.
references:
  - https://tria.ge/240521-ynezpagf56/behavioral1
  - https://any.run/report/6eea2773c1b4b5c6fb7c142933e220c96f9a4ec89055bf0cf54accdcde7df535/a407f006-ee45-420d-b576-f259094df091
  - https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/8c75f8e94486f5bbf461505823f5779f328c5b37f1387c18791e0c21f3fdd576/
  - https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/64e6605496919cd76554915cbed88e56fdec10dec6523918a631754664b8c8d3/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_bitlockertogo_execution.yml
author: Josh Nickels, mttaggart, Huntrule Team
date: 2024-07-11
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: \BitLockerToGo.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate usage of BitLockerToGo.exe to encrypt portable devices.
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 7f2376f9-42ee-4dfc-9360-fecff9a88fc8
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL