Windows WMIC.exe Product Class Reconnaissance via Security Product Queries
Detects wmic.exe being used to enumerate firewall, antivirus, and antispyware product classes.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Michael Haag, Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), juju4, oscd.community, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-02-14
- Updated
- 2026-07-30
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → DiscoveryRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags execution of wmic.exe where the command line queries for specific product classes related to security tooling, including AntiVirusProduct, AntiSpywareProduct, and FirewallProduct. Enumerating installed security products helps an attacker understand existing defenses and potentially select techniques to evade detection or disable protection. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the wmic.exe executable and the presence of those product class terms in the command line.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/albertzsigovits/malware-notes/blob/c820c7fea76cf76a861b28ebc77e06100e20ec29/Ransomware/Maze.md
- hybrid-analysis.comhttps://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/4be06ecd234e2110bd615649fe4a6fa95403979acf889d7e45a78985eb50acf9?environmentId=1
- trendmicro.comhttps://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/25/c/socgholishs-intrusion-techniques-facilitate-distribution-of-rans.html
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_product_class.yml
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: Windows WMIC.exe Product Class Reconnaissance via Security Product Queries
id: 4c9a2f59-4c62-4065-8ddb-44bb4d11a71f
status: test
description: This rule flags execution of wmic.exe where the command line queries for specific product classes related to security tooling, including AntiVirusProduct, AntiSpywareProduct, and FirewallProduct. Enumerating installed security products helps an attacker understand existing defenses and potentially select techniques to evade detection or disable protection. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the wmic.exe executable and the presence of those product class terms in the command line.
references:
- https://github.com/albertzsigovits/malware-notes/blob/c820c7fea76cf76a861b28ebc77e06100e20ec29/Ransomware/Maze.md
- https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/4be06ecd234e2110bd615649fe4a6fa95403979acf889d7e45a78985eb50acf9?environmentId=1
- https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/25/c/socgholishs-intrusion-techniques-facilitate-distribution-of-rans.html
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_product_class.yml
author: Michael Haag, Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), juju4, oscd.community, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-02-14
modified: 2025-03-17
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.t1047
- attack.discovery
- attack.t1082
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \wmic.exe
- OriginalFileName: wmic.exe
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains:
- AntiVirusProduct
- AntiSpywareProduct
- FirewallProduct
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Legitimate use of wmic.exe for reconnaissance of firewall, antivirus and antispywware products.
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_product_class/info.yml
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: e568650b-5dcd-4658-8f34-ded0b1e13992
type: derived