Windows: SharPersist Execution via Process Image and Scheduled Task/Startup/Registry/Service Command Lines
Detects SharPersist execution on Windows via process name and persistence-related command-line parameters.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-09-15
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → Priv EscRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies execution of the SharPersist Windows tool by matching the process image name (SharPersist.exe) and specific command-line patterns used to configure persistence. An attacker can leverage SharPersist to deploy multiple persistence mechanisms such as scheduled tasks, startup folder entries, registry run keys, and services. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including the full image path and command-line arguments.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Windows: SharPersist Execution via Process Image and Scheduled Task/Startup/Registry/Service Command Lines"
id: 3eb16fb4-548e-4f6c-9549-67e788396033
status: test
description: This rule identifies execution of the SharPersist Windows tool by matching the process image name (SharPersist.exe) and specific command-line patterns used to configure persistence. An attacker can leverage SharPersist to deploy multiple persistence mechanisms such as scheduled tasks, startup folder entries, registry run keys, and services. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including the full image path and command-line arguments.
references:
- https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/sharpersist-windows-persistence-toolkit
- https://github.com/mandiant/SharPersist
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_hktl_sharpersist.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-09-15
modified: 2023-02-04
tags:
- attack.privilege-escalation
- attack.execution
- attack.persistence
- attack.t1053
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \SharPersist.exe
- Product: SharPersist
selection_cli_1:
CommandLine|contains:
- " -t schtask -c "
- " -t startupfolder -c "
selection_cli_2:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- " -t reg -c "
- " -m add"
selection_cli_3:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- " -t service -c "
- " -m add"
selection_cli_4:
CommandLine|contains|all:
- " -t schtask -c "
- " -m add"
condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 26488ad0-f9fd-4536-876f-52fea846a2e4
type: derived