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Windows Process Creation: Nmap/Zenmap (nmap.exe or zennmap.exe) Execution

Flags Windows execution of Nmap/Zenmap (nmap.exe or zennmap.exe) used for remote service discovery.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-12-10
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Discovery

  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 identifies execution of Nmap or Zenmap on Windows by matching process creation events for nmap.exe or zennmap.exe. Attackers commonly use these tools to enumerate remote services and ports, which can reveal vulnerable targets for later exploitation. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including the executed image path and OriginalFileName fields.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Network Scanning Tool Execution
Malicious RDP Discovery Performed on Multiple Hosts (via rdp)
Malicious Anonymous Access Performed to Multiple Targets (via security)
Malicious Network Login Performed to Multiple Targets (via security)
Suspicious SoftPerfect Network Scanner Execution for Discovery
Suspicious SoftPerfect Network Scanner Execution (via process_creation)
Windows Process Creation: Nmap/Zenmap (nmap.exe or zennmap.exe) Execution
Pivot detection · T1046 · 9 related

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