huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Executable Image Missing Absolute Path (Possible Process Ghosting)

Flags Windows process creation where the executable Image lacks an absolute path, potentially indicating process ghosting.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-12-09
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

  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 process creation events where the Image field does not contain a backslash, indicating the executable path is not absolute and may not exist on disk when logged. Attackers can use process-ghosting or other non-standard process creation techniques to create processes whose executable image is obscured or missing. The detection relies on process creation telemetry fields for Image and CommandLine values to identify cases that match the rule’s excluded/allowed patterns.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious svchost Execution With Anomalous Arguments via DeedRAT (via process_creation)
Suspicious Sang Loader Execution with Install or PassUAC Arguments
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Windows Process Creation: Executable Image Missing Absolute Path (Possible Process Ghosting)
Pivot detection · T1055 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.