Windows: Process creation involving VSIISExeLauncher.exe with -p and -a arguments

Flags Windows launches of VSIISExeLauncher.exe with "-p" and "-a" parameters, consistent with potential arbitrary binary execution.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-06-09
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1127Trusted Developer Utilities Proxy Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1127Trusted Developer Utilities Proxy Execution
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process executions where VSIISExeLauncher.exe is launched and the command line contains both " -p " and " -a ", indicating it was used with parameters that can drive execution of attacker-controlled payloads. Attackers may leverage this signed Microsoft-associated binary to blend in with legitimate development tooling and reduce detection confidence. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, matching the executable name and the presence of specific argument patterns in the command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Process creation involving VSIISExeLauncher.exe with -p and -a arguments

Pivot detection · T1127 · 9 related

Changelog

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-vsiisexelauncher-exe-used-with-p-and-a-parameters-18749301

title: "Windows: Process creation involving VSIISExeLauncher.exe with -p and -a arguments"
id: 47c8b87d-15ae-44c6-817e-74e6fd56b56b
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process executions where VSIISExeLauncher.exe is launched and the command line contains both " -p " and " -a ", indicating it was used with parameters that can drive execution of attacker-controlled payloads. Attackers may leverage this signed Microsoft-associated binary to blend in with legitimate development tooling and reduce detection confidence. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, matching the executable name and the presence of specific argument patterns in the command line.
references:
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/OtherMSBinaries/VSIISExeLauncher/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_vsiisexelauncher.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-06-09
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1127
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \VSIISExeLauncher.exe
    - OriginalFileName: VSIISExeLauncher.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " -p "
      - " -a "
  condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 18749301-f1c5-4efc-a4c3-276ff1f5b6f8
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

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