Windows Process Creation: wmic.exe call terminate Attempt

Alerts on wmic.exe being executed with “call terminate”, indicating an attempt to terminate a process on Windows.

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windows-process-creation-wmic-exe-call-terminate-attempt-49d9671b

title: "Windows Process Creation: wmic.exe call terminate Attempt"
id: c4978ba0-17c4-4634-9530-6ddba12d5da2
related:
  - id: 847d5ff3-8a31-4737-a970-aeae8fe21765
    type: derived
  - id: 49d9671b-0a0a-4c09-8280-d215bfd30662
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process creation events where wmic.exe is launched with command-line arguments containing both "call" and "terminate". Attackers may use wmic to terminate processes, including security software or other applications, to degrade defenses or disrupt recovery. It relies on process creation telemetry, including Image/OriginalFileName and CommandLine fields.
references:
  - https://cyble.com/blog/lockfile-ransomware-using-proxyshell-attack-to-deploy-ransomware/
  - https://www.bitdefender.com/files/News/CaseStudies/study/377/Bitdefender-Whitepaper-WMI-creat4871-en-EN-GenericUse.pdf
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_terminate_application.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-09-11
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1047
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \WMIC.exe
    - OriginalFileName: wmic.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - call
      - terminate
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_terminate_application/info.yml
license: DRL-1.1

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process creation events where wmic.exe is launched with command-line arguments containing both "call" and "terminate". Attackers may use wmic to terminate processes, including security software or other applications, to degrade defenses or disrupt recovery. It relies on process creation telemetry, including Image/OriginalFileName and CommandLine fields.

Known false positives

Unknown

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