huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Renamed AutoIt2/AutoIt3 Execution via AutoIt3ExecuteScript

Alerts on suspicious renamed AutoIt2/AutoIt3 execution based on command-line parameters plus known hashes and original file names.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-06-04
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

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 command line includes AutoIt execution parameters (such as /AutoIt3ExecuteScript and /ErrorStdOut) and the process relates to AutoIt executables by hash and original file name. Attackers may rename AutoIt binaries to blend in, then use the scripting engine to run payloads or automate malicious actions. The detection relies on process command-line content, imphash values, and OriginalFileName fields, while filtering out executions of expected, known AutoIt file names.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Creation: Renamed AutoIt2/AutoIt3 Execution via AutoIt3ExecuteScript
Pivot detection · T1027 · 9 related

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