Windows: VBoxDrvInst.exe Invoked with driver/executeinf Parameters

Flags VBoxDrvInst.exe launched with parameters indicative of INF processing (driver/executeinf).

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Konstantin Grishchenko, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-06
Updated: 2026-07-30

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1112Modify Registry
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1112Modify Registry
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process executions of VBoxDrvInst.exe when the command line includes both the strings "driver" and "executeinf". Such usage indicates the utility is being instructed to process an INF file, which can result in driver installation behavior and associated registry modifications. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the executable path and command-line contents.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: VBoxDrvInst.exe Invoked with driver/executeinf Parameters

Pivot detection · T1112 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

windows-vboxdrvinst-exe-invoked-with-driver-executeinf-parameters-b7b19cb6

title: "Windows: VBoxDrvInst.exe Invoked with driver/executeinf Parameters"
id: 84c0a51c-6f1d-4675-9645-5f7ad68f7f1b
status: test
description: This rule flags process executions of VBoxDrvInst.exe when the command line includes both the strings "driver" and "executeinf". Such usage indicates the utility is being instructed to process an INF file, which can result in driver installation behavior and associated registry modifications. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the executable path and command-line contents.
references:
  - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/4db780e0f0b2e2bb8cb1fa13e09196da9b9f1834/yml/LOLUtilz/OtherBinaries/VBoxDrvInst.yml
  - https://twitter.com/pabraeken/status/993497996179492864
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_virtualbox_vboxdrvinst_execution.yml
author: Konstantin Grishchenko, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-06
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1112
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: \VBoxDrvInst.exe
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - driver
      - executeinf
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate use of VBoxDrvInst.exe utility by VirtualBox Guest Additions installation process
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b7b19cb6-9b32-4fc4-a108-73f19acfe262
    type: derived

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