huntrule

Windows: Suspicious Process Execution of hostname.exe

Flags execution of hostname.exe from process creation events on Windows for discovery activity.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-01-01
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Discovery

  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 process executions where the binary path ends with \HOSTNAME.EXE, indicating a hostname discovery attempt on Windows. Attackers often use hostname-related commands to gather local or system context before further discovery or targeting. It relies on process creation telemetry containing the executed image path.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1082 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious Windows Defender Support Directory Enumeration via Process Creation
Suspicious System Reconnaissance via Windows Script Host
Suspicious Host Reconnaissance Command Chain via cmd
Malicious DinodasRAT Hidden Config File Creation on Linux (via file_event)
Suspicious System Discovery via WMIC Query Commands (via process_creation)
Suspicious PowerShell Host and Locale Reconnaissance via MuddyWater Tsundere Botnet
Suspicious System Reconnaissance Output Redirected to Temp rad File
Suspicious System Profiler Hardware Reconnaissance via BANSHEE
Windows: Suspicious Process Execution of hostname.exe
Pivot detection · T1082 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.