huntrule

Windows: Process execution from web server root folders (wwwroot, htdocs, wmpub)

Alerts on Windows processes executing from typical web server root folders, consistent with webshell or backdoor staging.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2019-01-16
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence

  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 Windows process creation where the process image path contains common web server root directories such as \wwwroot\, \wmpub\, and \htdocs\. Executing from these locations is suspicious because attackers may drop and run webshells or other backdoors under the web root to achieve persistence or remote execution. Detection relies on process creation telemetry including Image and ParentImage paths to exclude likely benign service-launched tooling patterns.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1505.003 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious IIS Configuration Reconnaissance via Appcmd (via process_creation)
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Windows: Process execution from web server root folders (wwwroot, htdocs, wmpub)
Pivot detection · T1505.003 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. 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.