Windows: Winscp CLI FTP/SFTP Open via -command

Detects WinSCP executions with -command and an open request to ftp:// on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2025-10-12
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Exfiltration

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
- T1048Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags execution of WinSCP where the process image is winscp.exe and the command line includes the -command flag followed by an open action targeting an ftp:// URL. Attackers can use WinSCP’s CLI to quickly initiate file transfer sessions for data access and potential exfiltration. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the executable name/path and the full command line arguments.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1048 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Data Exfiltration via Blat SMTP Client (via process_creation)

Suspicious blat Utility Used for SMTP Data Exfiltration

Suspicious Data Exfiltration via WinSCP Command Line in BlackSuit Ransomware

Suspicious Scheduled Task Creation for rclone Exfiltration by The Gentlemen RaaS (via process_creation)

Suspicious DNS Query for Tor Onion Domain

Possible DNS Tunneling via Excessively Long Query Name

Malicious Bulk Data Exfiltration via Rclone (via process_creation)

BITS Payload Downloaded via Commandline (via process_creation)

BITS Payload Downloaded via PowerShell (via powershell)

Windows: Winscp CLI FTP/SFTP Open via -command

Pivot detection · T1048 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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-winscp-cli-ftp-sftp-open-attempt-via-command-c1477deb

title: "Windows: Winscp CLI FTP/SFTP Open via -command"
id: 1993472f-e959-43e5-b082-804606bfe9de
status: experimental
description: This rule flags execution of WinSCP where the process image is winscp.exe and the command line includes the -command flag followed by an open action targeting an ftp:// URL. Attackers can use WinSCP’s CLI to quickly initiate file transfer sessions for data access and potential exfiltration. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the executable name/path and the full command line arguments.
references:
  - https://blogs.blackberry.com/en/2024/07/akira-ransomware-targets-the-latam-airline-industry
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_winscp_command_open_ftp.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2025-10-12
tags:
  - attack.exfiltration
  - attack.t1048
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \WinSCP.exe
    - OriginalFileName: winscp.exe
  selection_cmd:
    CommandLine|contains|windash: -command
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - "open "
      - ftp://
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: c1477deb-37cf-4439-9ffb-44499acb89d0
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL