Windows UEFI Persistence: Detect wpbbin.exe Execution
Alerts on execution of C:\Windows\System32\wpbbin.exe, a potential indicator of UEFI persistence on Windows.
FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-07-18
- Updated
- 2026-07-30
ATT&CK techniques
Persistence → Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags process creation events where the executable C:\Windows\System32\wpbbin.exe is run. Attackers may use wpbbin as part of UEFI-based persistence to maintain execution after reboot. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry that records the full image path for started processes.
Reporting behind it
- grzegorztworek.medium.comhttps://grzegorztworek.medium.com/using-uefi-to-inject-executable-files-into-bitlocker-protected-drives-8ff4ca59c94c
- persistence-info.github.iohttps://persistence-info.github.io/Data/wpbbin.html
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wpbbin_potential_persistence.yml
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
windows-uefi-persistence-detect-wpbbin-exe-execution-4abc0ec4
title: "Windows UEFI Persistence: Detect wpbbin.exe Execution"
id: 99efcf39-d22e-4c11-a7f0-dcbfc2d917ea
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation events where the executable C:\Windows\System32\wpbbin.exe is run. Attackers may use wpbbin as part of UEFI-based persistence to maintain execution after reboot. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry that records the full image path for started processes.
references:
- https://grzegorztworek.medium.com/using-uefi-to-inject-executable-files-into-bitlocker-protected-drives-8ff4ca59c94c
- https://persistence-info.github.io/Data/wpbbin.html
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wpbbin_potential_persistence.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-07-18
tags:
- attack.persistence
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1542.001
logsource:
product: windows
category: process_creation
detection:
selection:
Image: C:\Windows\System32\wpbbin.exe
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate usage of the file by hardware manufacturer such as lenovo (Thanks @0gtweet for the tip)
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 4abc0ec4-db5a-412f-9632-26659cddf145
type: derived