huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Shai-Hulud String Indicators in Command Line

Alerts on Windows process executions whose command line includes Shai-Hulud indicator strings.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2025-11-25
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  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 whose command line contains either the strings "Shai-Hulud" or "SHA1HULUD". Attackers may embed recognizable markers in execution arguments, making these strings useful for spotting specific malware-related activity. It relies on process creation telemetry with access to the full command line.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious Script Interpreter Spawned by Excel via DarkGate Lure
Suspicious AutoHotkey Script Execution from User Writable Path by DarkGate
Malicious China Chopper Web Shell Command Pattern in IIS Worker Process (via process_creation)
Malicious AutoHotKey Runner AutoNotify Executing AHKBot Looper Script (via process_creation)
Malicious IIS Worker Process Spawning Command Shell after ASP.NET ViewState Injection (via process_creation)
Suspicious MSSQL xp_cmdshell Enablement via sp_configure (via process_creation)
Windows Process Creation: Shai-Hulud String Indicators in Command Line
Pivot detection · T1059 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. 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.