huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Sysinternals PsSuspend Targeting msmpeng.exe

Alerts on execution of Sysinternals PsSuspend with command line referencing msmpeng.exe.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-03-23
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

  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 process creation where the Sysinternals PsSuspend binary (pssuspend.exe variants) is executed with command line text that contains msmpeng.exe. Suspending security-related processes can impair endpoint defenses and is a common tactic for evasion. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the image name and command line contents for psuspend variants and msmpeng.exe.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious SELinux and Firewall Disabling on Linux by Cryptominer (via process_creation)
Suspicious Windows Defender Exclusion of User Profile via PowerShell (via process_creation)
Malicious Vulnerable Driver Service Creation for BYOVD (via process_creation)
Malicious Microsoft Defender Disabled via Registry DisableAntiSpyware (via process_creation)
Suspicious Termination of Defender Tray Process via Taskkill
Malicious Windows Defender Disablement via MpCmdRun RemoveDefinitions
Malicious Unsigned VIB Installation on ESXi Host via esxcli (via process_creation)
Suspicious In-Memory PowerShell Execution from Web Server via Automation Assembly (via image_load)
Malicious EDR Evasion Driver Load from AnyDesk Directory via k.sys (via image_load)
Windows Process Creation: Sysinternals PsSuspend Targeting msmpeng.exe
Pivot detection · T1685 · 9 related

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