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

title: "Windows: Process execution from web server root folders (wwwroot, htdocs, wmpub)"
id: 3041c03a-d891-4c9a-bb41-355d70ba122e
status: test
description: 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.
references:
  - Internal Research
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_susp_execution_path_webserver.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2019-01-16
modified: 2024-01-18
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.t1505.003
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|contains:
      - \wwwroot\
      - \wmpub\
      - \htdocs\
  filter_main_generic:
    Image|contains:
      - bin\
      - \Tools\
      - \SMSComponent\
    ParentImage|endswith: \services.exe
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Various applications
  - Tools that include ping or nslookup command invocations
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 35efb964-e6a5-47ad-bbcd-19661854018d
    type: derived