Windows: tar.exe Archive Extraction Using -x Flag
Flags Windows process executions of tar.exe with -x to extract compressed archives.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- AdmU3 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-12-19
- Updated
- 2026-07-30
ATT&CK techniques
CollectionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies execution of tar.exe on Windows that performs archive extraction by matching a command line containing the -x option. Attackers often use legitimate compression utilities to decompress files as part of staging or execution while blending in with normal tool usage. Telemetry required includes Windows process creation events with process image/metadata and command line arguments.
Reporting behind it
- unit42.paloaltonetworks.comhttps://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/chromeloader-malware/
- lolbas-project.github.iohttps://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Tar/
- symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.comhttps://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/cicada-apt10-japan-espionage
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_tar_extraction.yml
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: "Windows: tar.exe Archive Extraction Using -x Flag"
id: 653d2bfa-549d-4a38-9be8-26ffa1326263
status: test
description: This rule identifies execution of tar.exe on Windows that performs archive extraction by matching a command line containing the -x option. Attackers often use legitimate compression utilities to decompress files as part of staging or execution while blending in with normal tool usage. Telemetry required includes Windows process creation events with process image/metadata and command line arguments.
references:
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/chromeloader-malware/
- https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Tar/
- https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/cicada-apt10-japan-espionage
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_tar_extraction.yml
author: AdmU3, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-12-19
tags:
- attack.collection
- attack.exfiltration
- attack.t1560
- attack.t1560.001
logsource:
product: windows
category: process_creation
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \tar.exe
- OriginalFileName: bsdtar
selection_extract:
CommandLine|contains: -x
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Likely
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: bf361876-6620-407a-812f-bfe11e51e924
type: derived