Windows Process Creation: Hermetic Wiper–style Postgres/PowerShell Command-Line Patterns
Flags Windows process creation with wiper-like PowerShell comsvcs MiniDump and related command-line/paths.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-02-25
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Lateral MovementRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule matches specific Windows process creation behaviors that align with observed Hermetic Wiper intrusion activity, including executions referencing postgresql.exe and PowerShell command lines consistent with dumping behavior. Attackers can use such patterns to stage actions, move or access files via administrative shares, and produce artifacts that support follow-on activity. The detection relies on process execution telemetry containing the executed image path and command-line arguments.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Windows Process Creation: Hermetic Wiper–style Postgres/PowerShell Command-Line Patterns"
id: b236980b-4241-4a19-b549-6fdf84aba6cc
status: test
description: This rule matches specific Windows process creation behaviors that align with observed Hermetic Wiper intrusion activity, including executions referencing postgresql.exe and PowerShell command lines consistent with dumping behavior. Attackers can use such patterns to stage actions, move or access files via administrative shares, and produce artifacts that support follow-on activity. The detection relies on process execution telemetry containing the executed image path and command-line arguments.
references:
- https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/ukraine-wiper-malware-russia
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2022/Malware/Hermetic-Wiper/proc_creation_win_malware_hermetic_wiper_activity.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-02-25
modified: 2022-09-09
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.lateral-movement
- attack.t1021.001
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection1:
Image|endswith: \policydefinitions\postgresql.exe
selection2:
- CommandLine|contains:
- CSIDL_SYSTEM_DRIVE\temp\sys.tmp
- " 1> \\\\\\\\127.0.0.1\\ADMIN$\\__16"
- CommandLine|contains|all:
- "powershell -c "
- "\\comsvcs.dll MiniDump "
- \winupd.log full
condition: 1 of selection*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 2f974656-6d83-4059-bbdf-68ac5403422f
type: derived