Windows Process Command Line: Accidental Cobalt Strike Commands in cmd.exe

Flags cmd.exe executions whose command lines include known Cobalt Strike command terms.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: _pete_0, TheDFIRReport (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-05-06
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.003Windows Command Shell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule matches Windows process creation events where cmd.exe is launched and the command line contains common Cobalt Strike command strings such as psinject, spawnas, make_token, remote-exec, rev2self, dcsync, logonpasswords, execute-assembly, and getsystem. Attackers and operators may leave these commands entered in the shell during testing or mis-execution, which can still reveal intent or tooling usage. The detection relies on process creation telemetry including OriginalFileName and the full CommandLine.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Command Line: Accidental Cobalt Strike Commands in cmd.exe

Pivot detection · T1059.003 · 9 related

Changelog

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-cobalt-strike-command-strings-entered-in-cmd-exe-647c7b9e

title: "Windows Process Command Line: Accidental Cobalt Strike Commands in cmd.exe"
id: ecab74d6-a567-426b-91fb-4ff6a1f5203f
related:
  - id: 4f154fb6-27d1-4813-a759-78b93e0b9c48
    type: similar
  - id: 647c7b9e-d784-4fda-b9a0-45c565a7b729
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule matches Windows process creation events where cmd.exe is launched and the command line contains common Cobalt Strike command strings such as psinject, spawnas, make_token, remote-exec, rev2self, dcsync, logonpasswords, execute-assembly, and getsystem. Attackers and operators may leave these commands entered in the shell during testing or mis-execution, which can still reveal intent or tooling usage. The detection relies on process creation telemetry including OriginalFileName and the full CommandLine.
references:
  - https://hstechdocs.helpsystems.com/manuals/cobaltstrike/current/userguide/content/cobalt-4-5-user-guide.pdf
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/10/04/bazarloader-and-the-conti-leaks/
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/06/16/sans-ransomware-summit-2022-can-you-detect-this/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_hktl_cobaltstrike_bloopers_cmd.yml
author: _pete_0, TheDFIRReport, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-05-06
modified: 2023-01-30
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.003
  - stp.1u
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - OriginalFileName: Cmd.Exe
    - Image|endswith: \cmd.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|startswith:
      - "cmd "
      - cmd.exe
      - c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe
    CommandLine|contains:
      - psinject
      - spawnas
      - make_token
      - remote-exec
      - rev2self
      - dcsync
      - logonpasswords
      - execute-assembly
      - getsystem
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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