Windows: Winscp CLI FTP/SFTP Open via -command
Detects WinSCP executions with -command and an open request to ftp:// on Windows.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2025-10-12
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
ExfiltrationRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
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
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
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