Windows Process Creation: SDelete Used for File Overwrite

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
- T1485Data Destruction

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process executions where the binary name is sdelete.exe and the command line does not match patterns associated with alternate behavior (e.g., specific flags like -h, -c, -z, or the help switch). SDelete can be used to overwrite file contents rather than just free space, which can reduce forensic artifacts and hinder incident response. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the executable filename and command-line arguments.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1485 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Free Space Wipe via cipher.exe

Suspicious sha256sum.exe Execution from Windows Temp Directory

Suspicious Secure Deletion of Free Space via Cipher (via process_creation)

HamsaUpdate Wiper Trigger via F5UPDATER ConfirmDeleteFiles Argument (via process_creation)

Malicious Scheduled Task Deploying DYNOWIPER Payload (via process_creation)

Malicious Mini Shai-Hulud TanStack Destructive rm Killswitch (via process_creation)

Malicious S3 Object Encryption with Customer Provided Key via CopyObject

Malicious Cloud Storage Destruction by Cloud Build Service Account

Windows Process Creation: SDelete Used for File Overwrite

Pivot detection · T1485 · 9 related

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-sdelete-used-for-file-overwrite-a4824fca

title: "Windows Process Creation: SDelete Used for File Overwrite"
id: 15ab72f0-1af7-4d67-9c92-70ac567ee718
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process executions where the binary name is sdelete.exe and the command line does not match patterns associated with alternate behavior (e.g., specific flags like -h, -c, -z, or the help switch). SDelete can be used to overwrite file contents rather than just free space, which can reduce forensic artifacts and hinder incident response. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the executable filename and command-line arguments.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1485/T1485.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_sysinternals_sdelete.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-06-03
modified: 2023-02-28
tags:
  - attack.impact
  - attack.t1485
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    OriginalFileName: sdelete.exe
  filter:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " -h"
      - " -c"
      - " -z"
      - " /\\?"
  condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: a4824fca-976f-4964-b334-0621379e84c4
    type: derived

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