Windows Process Discovery via wmic.exe "group" Flag
Flags wmic.exe process executions querying local group information via a "group" command-line argument.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2021-12-12
- Updated
- 2026-07-30
ATT&CK techniques
DiscoveryRecon
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 executions of wmic.exe where the command line includes the " group" argument. Querying local groups can help an attacker enumerate group names and potentially infer membership or permission-related information. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name/path and the presence of the group-related command-line parameter.
Reporting behind it
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: Windows Process Discovery via wmic.exe "group" Flag
id: 60d46fa2-baa2-4aab-be57-7b0ba7f73344
status: test
description: This rule identifies executions of wmic.exe where the command line includes the " group" argument. Querying local groups can help an attacker enumerate group names and potentially infer membership or permission-related information. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name/path and the presence of the group-related command-line parameter.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1069.001/T1069.001.md
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_group.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-12-12
modified: 2023-02-14
tags:
- attack.discovery
- attack.t1069.001
logsource:
product: windows
category: process_creation
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \wmic.exe
- OriginalFileName: wmic.exe
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains: " group"
condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: low
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_group/info.yml
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 164eda96-11b2-430b-85ff-6a265c15bf32
type: derived