huntrule

Windows: Word LNK via cmd.exe Start Menu shortcut leading to .doc execution

Flags cmd.exe command lines that invoke a Word Start Menu .lnk to launch a .doc.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), X__Junior (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2024-03-22
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

  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 process executions where cmd.exe is launched to run a Start Menu shortcut for Word and the command line ends with a .doc file. Attackers commonly use shortcut-driven document execution to blend execution steps and trigger follow-on payload activity. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, specifically the cmd.exe image path and the contents of the associated command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Word LNK via cmd.exe Start Menu shortcut leading to .doc execution
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Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. 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.