Windows Process Creation: Command-Line Indicators of Crypto Mining

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
- T1496Resource Hijacking

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process executions whose command line contains strings and parameters commonly seen in cryptocurrency miners, including pool URLs (e.g., stratum+tcp/udp), miner tuning options, and base64-encoded variants of the same. Such indicators are important because attackers often deploy miners via command-line arguments to establish pool communication and maximize resource usage. The detection relies on process creation telemetry with access to the full command line, matching specific substrings and excluding cases containing certain developer/build-related indicators.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Creation: Command-Line Indicators of Crypto Mining

Pivot detection · T1496 · 9 related

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-command-line-indicators-of-crypto-mining-66c3b204

title: "Windows Process Creation: Command-Line Indicators of Crypto Mining"
id: b7776698-b6d2-4cc2-ae10-164f2b71eb92
status: stable
description: This rule flags Windows process executions whose command line contains strings and parameters commonly seen in cryptocurrency miners, including pool URLs (e.g., stratum+tcp/udp), miner tuning options, and base64-encoded variants of the same. Such indicators are important because attackers often deploy miners via command-line arguments to establish pool communication and maximize resource usage. The detection relies on process creation telemetry with access to the full command line, matching specific substrings and excluding cases containing certain developer/build-related indicators.
references:
  - https://www.poolwatch.io/coin/monero
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_susp_crypto_mining_monero.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-10-26
modified: 2023-02-13
tags:
  - attack.impact
  - attack.t1496
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " --cpu-priority="
      - --donate-level=0
      - " -o pool."
      - " --nicehash"
      - " --algo=rx/0 "
      - stratum+tcp://
      - stratum+udp://
      - LS1kb25hdGUtbGV2ZWw9
      - 0tZG9uYXRlLWxldmVsP
      - tLWRvbmF0ZS1sZXZlbD
      - c3RyYXR1bSt0Y3A6Ly
      - N0cmF0dW0rdGNwOi8v
      - zdHJhdHVtK3RjcDovL
      - c3RyYXR1bSt1ZHA6Ly
      - N0cmF0dW0rdWRwOi8v
      - zdHJhdHVtK3VkcDovL
  filter:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " pool.c "
      - " pool.o "
      - gcc -
  condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate use of crypto miners
  - Some build frameworks
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 66c3b204-9f88-4d0a-a7f7-8a57d521ca55
    type: derived

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