Windows OpenConsole LOLBIN Execution via Process Creation

Alerts when OpenConsole.exe runs (outside a specific Windows Terminal path), potentially used to bypass application whitelisting.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-06-16
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process creation events where the executed binary is OpenConsole.exe, identified by the original filename or the executable path ending in \OpenConsole.exe. OpenConsole can be abused as a signed Windows utility to launch other binaries and potentially evade application allowlisting controls. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, including OriginalFileName and Image path details, while excluding the default Microsoft.WindowsTerminal app path.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Web Server Process Spawning Command Interpreter via Web Shell (via process_creation)

Suspicious VMware Guest Operation Output Staging in vmware-system Temp Directory (via file_event)

Malicious Command Shell Spawned by SQL Server via Process Creation (via process_creation)

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 OpenConsole LOLBIN Execution via Process Creation

Pivot detection · T1059 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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.

windows-process-creation-openconsole-exe-used-as-lolbin-to-launch-other-executab-814c95cc

title: Windows OpenConsole LOLBIN Execution via Process Creation
id: fe45a3c8-cf98-4569-af75-f02788579d67
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation events where the executed binary is OpenConsole.exe, identified by the original filename or the executable path ending in \OpenConsole.exe. OpenConsole can be abused as a signed Windows utility to launch other binaries and potentially evade application allowlisting controls. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, including OriginalFileName and Image path details, while excluding the default Microsoft.WindowsTerminal app path.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/nas_bench/status/1537563834478645252
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_openconsole.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-06-16
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    - OriginalFileName: OpenConsole.exe
    - Image|endswith: \OpenConsole.exe
  filter:
    Image|startswith: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal
  condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate use by an administrator
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 814c95cc-8192-4378-a70a-f1aafd877af1
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL