Windows: Detect sftp.exe used as a LOLBIN via -D option

Alerts on Windows executions of sftp.exe using the -D flag with a path argument.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-11-10
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218System Binary Proxy Execution
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process executions where the Image ends with sftp.exe and the CommandLine includes the -D option followed by a path, indicating potential LOLBIN abuse. Attackers can use legitimate binaries like sftp.exe to proxy execution steps or access attacker-controlled file paths while blending into normal activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry with access to the executed binary name and full command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Detect sftp.exe used as a LOLBIN via -D option

Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

Changelog

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-sftp-exe-lolbin-abuse-via-d-flag-a85ffc3a

title: "Windows: Detect sftp.exe used as a LOLBIN via -D option"
id: 801f1bdd-ef20-48bc-b6cc-0069039fbe31
status: test
description: This rule flags process executions where the Image ends with sftp.exe and the CommandLine includes the -D option followed by a path, indicating potential LOLBIN abuse. Attackers can use legitimate binaries like sftp.exe to proxy execution steps or access attacker-controlled file paths while blending into normal activity. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry with access to the executed binary name and full command line.
references:
  - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/pull/264
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_sftp.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-11-10
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: \sftp.exe
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " -D .."
      - " -D C:\\"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: a85ffc3a-e8fd-4040-93bf-78aff284d801
    type: derived

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