huntrule

Windows Winrs.exe Local Command Execution via localhost/loopback

Alerts on Winrs.exe processes running locally by targeting localhost/loopback in /r or /remote.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Liran Ravich, Nasreddine Bencherchali (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2025-10-22
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion → Lateral Movement

  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 flags process creations of Winrs.exe when its command line targets localhost or loopback addresses (including 127.0.0.1 and ::1). Winrs is commonly used for remote management, so local execution with these parameters can indicate proxy execution behavior for stealth or movement. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically matching Winrs image and command-line arguments for /r or /remote values.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Winrs.exe Local Command Execution via localhost/loopback
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Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.