Windows Remote Thread Creation Triggered by Uncommon Source Images

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1055Process Injection
Defense Evasion
- T1055Process Injection
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies remote thread creation events where the thread source image matches a set of uncommon or high-value processes while excluding several known legitimate parent/target combinations. Unusual remote thread creation can indicate stealthy code injection or other techniques used to execute attacker-controlled code in another process. The detection relies on Windows telemetry that records remote thread creation, including SourceImage and related process/target context for filtering known benign activity.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Remote Thread Creation Triggered by Uncommon Source Images

Pivot detection · T1055 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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

windows-remote-thread-creation-triggered-from-uncommon-source-images-66d31e5f

title: Windows Remote Thread Creation Triggered by Uncommon Source Images
id: 7433dcfd-2bc1-4008-8302-c7cdaeb193e4
related:
  - id: 02d1d718-dd13-41af-989d-ea85c7fab93f
    type: derived
  - id: 66d31e5f-52d6-40a4-9615-002d3789a119
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies remote thread creation events where the thread source image matches a set of uncommon or high-value processes while excluding several known legitimate parent/target combinations. Unusual remote thread creation can indicate stealthy code injection or other techniques used to execute attacker-controlled code in another process. The detection relies on Windows telemetry that records remote thread creation, including SourceImage and related process/target context for filtering known benign activity.
references:
  - Personal research, statistical analysis
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/create_remote_thread/create_remote_thread_win_susp_uncommon_source_image.yml
author: Perez Diego (@darkquassar), oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2019-10-27
modified: 2025-07-08
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1055
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: create_remote_thread
detection:
  selection:
    SourceImage|endswith:
      - \explorer.exe
      - \iexplore.exe
      - \msiexec.exe
      - \powerpnt.exe
      - \schtasks.exe
      - \winlogon.exe
  filter_main_winlogon_1:
    SourceImage: C:\Windows\System32\winlogon.exe
    TargetImage:
      - C:\Windows\System32\services.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\wininit.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\csrss.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\LogonUI.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\wlrmdr.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\AtBroker.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\dwm.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\fontdrvhost.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\userinit.exe
  filter_main_winlogon_2:
    SourceImage: C:\Windows\System32\winlogon.exe
    TargetParentProcessId: 4
  filter_main_schtasks_conhost:
    SourceImage:
      - C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe
      - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\schtasks.exe
    TargetImage: C:\Windows\System32\conhost.exe
  filter_main_explorer:
    SourceImage: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
    TargetImage|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\
      - C:\Program Files\
      - C:\Windows\System32\
      - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
  filter_main_system:
    TargetImage: System
  filter_main_msiexec_1:
    SourceImage|endswith: \msiexec.exe
    TargetImage|contains:
      - \AppData\Local\
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\
      - C:\Program Files\
      - C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\
  filter_main_msiexec_2:
    SourceImage|endswith: \msiexec.exe
    TargetImage:
      - C:\Windows\System32\msiexec.exe
      - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msiexec.exe
  filter_main_iexplore:
    SourceImage: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
    TargetImage:
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
      - C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe
  filter_main_powerpnt:
    SourceImage|endswith: \POWERPNT.EXE
    TargetImage|contains:
      - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\
  filter_optional_aurora_smartconsole1:
    SourceImage: C:\Program Files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe
    SourceCommandLine|contains|all:
      - https://
      - .checkpoint.com/documents/
      - SmartConsole_OLH/
      - default.htm#cshid=
  filter_optional_aurora_smartconsole2:
    SourceImage: C:\Program Files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe
    SourceParentImage|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files\
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\
    SourceParentImage|contains|all:
      - \CheckPoint\SmartConsole\
      - \SmartConsole.exe
  filter_optional_powerpnt:
    SourceImage|contains: \Microsoft Office\
    SourceImage|endswith: \POWERPNT.EXE
    TargetImage: C:\Windows\System32\csrss.exe
  filter_main_null:
    TargetImage: null
  filter_main_empty:
    TargetImage: ""
  filter_optional_onedrive:
    SourceImage: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
    TargetImage|endswith: \AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe
  filter_optional_aurora:
    SourceImage: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
    TargetImage|endswith: \aurora-dashboard.exe
  filter_optional_officesetup:
    SourceImage: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
    TargetImage|endswith: \OfficeSetup.exe
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
  - This rule is best put in testing first in order to create a baseline that reflects the data in your environment.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

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