Windows: VSDiagnostics.EXE started with launch parameters to proxy arbitrary binaries

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 creation where VSDiagnostics.exe is executed with command-line content indicating a 'start' action and includes one of the launch parameter variants. Attackers can abuse this diagnostic binary to stage and proxy the execution of other payloads while blending into legitimate tooling. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name and specific substrings within the command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: VSDiagnostics.EXE started with launch parameters to proxy arbitrary binaries

Pivot detection · T1218 · 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-vsdiagnostics-exe-started-with-launch-parameters-to-proxy-arbitrary-bina-ac1c92b4

title: "Windows: VSDiagnostics.EXE started with launch parameters to proxy arbitrary binaries"
id: 9691d9c7-c06c-4b0e-91ab-cff5472c811c
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation where VSDiagnostics.exe is executed with command-line content indicating a 'start' action and includes one of the launch parameter variants. Attackers can abuse this diagnostic binary to stage and proxy the execution of other payloads while blending into legitimate tooling. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name and specific substrings within the command line.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/0xBoku/status/1679200664013135872
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_vsdiagnostics_execution_proxy.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-08-03
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \VSDiagnostics.exe
    - OriginalFileName: VSDiagnostics.exe
  selection_cli_start:
    CommandLine|contains: start
  selection_cli_launch:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - " /launch:"
      - " -launch:"
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate usage for tracing and diagnostics purposes
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: ac1c92b4-ac81-405a-9978-4604d78cc47e
    type: derived

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