Windows Process Creation: Executable Launches Identical Self Instance (Sacrificial Process)

Alerts on Windows process creation where a targeted parent context suggests an executable spawns an identical instance, potentially as a sacrificial process.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v5

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2025-10-17
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1055Process Injection
Defense Evasion
- T1055Process Injection
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process creation events where a parent process image matches an identical/same executable instance, a pattern that can be used to spawn a sacrificial process for stealth and evasion. Attackers may leverage this to support code injection or to manipulate execution flow, often accompanied by suspicious command-line behavior and process ancestry. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation fields, including parent image and executable attributes, with additional filtering to reduce matches from common legitimate installers and tools.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Creation: Executable Launches Identical Self Instance (Sacrificial Process)

Pivot detection · T1055 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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-self-launching-executable-running-as-sacrificial-proces-bafd07c6

title: "Windows Process Creation: Executable Launches Identical Self Instance (Sacrificial Process)"
id: 73ff65bf-ef3b-40a3-9e27-04d68d7a7c53
status: experimental
description: This rule flags process creation events where a parent process image matches an identical/same executable instance, a pattern that can be used to spawn a sacrificial process for stealth and evasion. Attackers may leverage this to support code injection or to manipulate execution flow, often accompanied by suspicious command-line behavior and process ancestry. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation fields, including parent image and executable attributes, with additional filtering to reduce matches from common legitimate installers and tools.
references:
  - https://www.joesandbox.com/analysis/1605063/0/html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_susp_parent_execute_itself.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2025-10-17
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1055
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|fieldref: ParentImage
  filter_main_path:
    Image|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files\
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\
  filter_main_original_fn:
    OriginalFileName:
      - Cmd.Exe
      - CompatTelRunner.exe
      - Discord.exe
      - electron.exe
      - EXPLORER.EXE
      - httpd.exe
      - IE4UINIT.EXE
      - mmc.exe
      - MpCmdRun.exe
      - mscorsvw.exe
      - msiexec.exe
      - NGenTask.exe
      - OneDriveSetup.exe
      - PowerShell.EXE
      - REGSVR32.EXE
      - smss.exe
      - Spotify.exe
      - WerMgr
  filter_main_product:
    Product:
      - Avira
      - Evernote
      - Firefox
      - Microsoft Office
      - Ninite
      - Opera Browser Assistant Installer
      - Opera Installer
      - Sysinternals Sysmon
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate software that may launch a new instance of itself, especially updaters or installers. Investigate each alert and apply whitelisting as needed.
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: bafd07c6-3ea5-454a-b4be-058fbb073de7
    type: derived

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