Windows: Detect VMwareXferlogs.exe Executed from Non-default Path

Alert on VMwareXferlogs.exe launching from an unexpected directory, a potential DLL sideloading technique on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-08-02
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1574.001DLL
Persistence
- T1574.001DLL
Priv Esc
- T1574.001DLL
Defense Evasion
- T1574.001DLL
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process creation events where VMware Xfer utility (VMwareXferlogs.exe) runs from a directory outside the expected default VMware installation path. Attackers may use legitimate VMware utilities placed or launched from non-standard locations to load malicious DLLs or persist while blending in with trusted tooling. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable filename suffix and excluding the typical installation directory prefix.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Detect VMwareXferlogs.exe Executed from Non-default Path

Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 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-vmware-xfer-utility-dll-sideloading-via-vmwarexferlogs-exe-in-non-defaul-ebea773c

title: "Windows: Detect VMwareXferlogs.exe Executed from Non-default Path"
id: afd0fdb6-4c78-4b9e-a225-dcfa0039e893
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation events where VMware Xfer utility (VMwareXferlogs.exe) runs from a directory outside the expected default VMware installation path. Attackers may use legitimate VMware utilities placed or launched from non-standard locations to load malicious DLLs or persist while blending in with trusted tooling. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable filename suffix and excluding the typical installation directory prefix.
references:
  - https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/lockbit-ransomware-side-loads-cobalt-strike-beacon-with-legitimate-vmware-utility/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_dll_sideload_vmware_xfer.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-02
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: \VMwareXferlogs.exe
  filter:
    Image|startswith: C:\Program Files\VMware\
  condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: ebea773c-a8f1-42ad-a856-00cb221966e8
    type: derived

Convert

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