huntrule

Windows Process Execution: SafetyKatz HackTool (SafetyKatz.exe)

Alerts when a process running SafetyKatz.exe is created, using image path and embedded file metadata.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-10-20
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

  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 detects execution of the credential-access hacktool SafetyKatz by matching process image path ending with \SafetyKatz.exe and associated PE metadata fields (OriginalFileName and Description). Attackers use SafetyKatz to interact with Windows credential material, so identifying its launch is a high-signal indicator of credential access activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry that includes the executing image path and PE-derived fields such as OriginalFileName and Description.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1003.001 — drag to rearrange
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Malicious LSASS Credential Dump via ProcDump (via process_creation)
Malicious LSASS Memory Dump via comsvcs.dll by Salt Typhoon
Malicious LSASS Dump via Process Access (via process_access)
Malicious LSASS Credential Dump with LSASSY - Process (via process_creation)
Malicious LSASS Credential Dump with LSASSY - Admin Share (via security)
Malicious Task Manager Used for LSASS Dump - Kernel (via security)
Windows Process Execution: SafetyKatz HackTool (SafetyKatz.exe)
Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.