Windows Process Creation: conhost.exe with High IntegrityLevel and -ForceV1
Flags conhost.exe started with -ForceV1 from a High integrity process on Windows.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-12-09
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags process creation events where conhost.exe is launched with the legacy -ForceV1 option while the process runs with High integrity. Elevated integrity for this console host behavior can indicate an attempt to run with higher privileges during console-related activity. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the IntegrityLevel and command line containing conhost.exe, -ForceV1, and 0xffffffff.
Reporting behind it
- cybercryptosec.medium.comhttps://cybercryptosec.medium.com/covid-19-cyber-infection-c615ead7c29
- thedfirreport.comhttps://thedfirreport.com/2022/04/04/stolen-images-campaign-ends-in-conti-ransomware/
- learn.microsoft.comhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/secauthz/mandatory-integrity-control
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_conhost_legacy_option.yml
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Windows Process Creation: conhost.exe with High IntegrityLevel and -ForceV1"
id: 00123784-70ae-47ec-94fb-f4a0bf333894
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation events where conhost.exe is launched with the legacy -ForceV1 option while the process runs with High integrity. Elevated integrity for this console host behavior can indicate an attempt to run with higher privileges during console-related activity. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the IntegrityLevel and command line containing conhost.exe, -ForceV1, and 0xffffffff.
references:
- https://cybercryptosec.medium.com/covid-19-cyber-infection-c615ead7c29
- https://thedfirreport.com/2022/04/04/stolen-images-campaign-ends-in-conti-ransomware/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/secauthz/mandatory-integrity-control
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_conhost_legacy_option.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-12-09
modified: 2024-12-01
tags:
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1202
logsource:
product: windows
category: process_creation
detection:
selection:
IntegrityLevel:
- High
- S-1-16-12288
CommandLine|contains|all:
- conhost.exe
- "0xffffffff"
- -ForceV1
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Very Likely, including launching cmd.exe via Run As Administrator
level: informational
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 3037d961-21e9-4732-b27a-637bcc7bf539
type: derived