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Windows wbadmin.exe Deletes All Backup Copies (keepVersions:0)

Flags wbadmin.exe executions that delete all backups/system state backups using keepVersions:0.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-12-13
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies command-line executions of wbadmin.exe on Windows where backup or system state backup deletion is requested with keepVersions:0. Attackers may remove all available backups to hinder recovery after impact. Detection relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the executed image name/path and the presence of deletion-related parameters in the command line.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1490 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious Shadow Copy Deletion via Vssadmin by Kraken Ransomware
Malicious Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin or WMIC
Malicious Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin
Suspicious Free Space Wipe via cipher.exe
Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion Via WMI
Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin or wmic
Malicious Inhibit System Recovery via Backup and Shadow Copy Deletion (via process_creation)
Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin
Windows wbadmin.exe Deletes All Backup Copies (keepVersions:0)
Pivot detection · T1490 · 9 related

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