Windows WMIC System Information Discovery via WMI Command-Line Queries
Flags WMIC command-line queries that pull OS, hardware, disk, memory, BIOS, and GPU details while excluding VMware Tools discovery scripts.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Joseliyo Sanchez, @Joseliyo_Jstnk (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-12-19
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
DiscoveryRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies process executions of wmic.exe (WMIC.exe) where the command line includes the "get" operation and queries specific WMI classes such as OS, CPU, diskdrive, memory (memphysical), baseboard, BIOS, and video controller details. Attackers often use WMIC for system inventory and discovery to tailor follow-on activity to the host’s hardware and software configuration. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation events capturing the executable name/path and command-line contents, excluding VMware Tools serviceDiscovery scripts to reduce noise.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/a2ccd19c37d0278b4ffa8583add3cf52060a5418/atomics/T1082/T1082.md#atomic-test-25---system-information-discovery-with-wmic
- nwgat.ninjahttps://nwgat.ninja/getting-system-information-with-wmic-on-windows/
- blog.sekoia.iohttps://blog.sekoia.io/aurora-a-rising-stealer-flying-under-the-radar
- blog.cyble.comhttps://blog.cyble.com/2023/01/18/aurora-a-stealer-using-shapeshifting-tactics/
- app.any.runhttps://app.any.run/tasks/a6aa0057-82ec-451f-8f99-55650ca537da/
- virustotal.comhttps://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/d6f6bc10ae0e634ed4301d584f61418cee18e5d58ad9af72f8aa552dc4aaeca3/behavior
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_system_info.yml
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 WMIC System Information Discovery via WMI Command-Line Queries
id: 04a161d1-4e83-4896-b853-e46d66816de8
related:
- id: 9d5a1274-922a-49d0-87f3-8c653483b909
type: derived
- id: d85ecdd7-b855-4e6e-af59-d9c78b5b861e
type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies process executions of wmic.exe (WMIC.exe) where the command line includes the "get" operation and queries specific WMI classes such as OS, CPU, diskdrive, memory (memphysical), baseboard, BIOS, and video controller details. Attackers often use WMIC for system inventory and discovery to tailor follow-on activity to the host’s hardware and software configuration. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation events capturing the executable name/path and command-line contents, excluding VMware Tools serviceDiscovery scripts to reduce noise.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/a2ccd19c37d0278b4ffa8583add3cf52060a5418/atomics/T1082/T1082.md#atomic-test-25---system-information-discovery-with-wmic
- https://nwgat.ninja/getting-system-information-with-wmic-on-windows/
- https://blog.sekoia.io/aurora-a-rising-stealer-flying-under-the-radar
- https://blog.cyble.com/2023/01/18/aurora-a-stealer-using-shapeshifting-tactics/
- https://app.any.run/tasks/a6aa0057-82ec-451f-8f99-55650ca537da/
- https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/d6f6bc10ae0e634ed4301d584f61418cee18e5d58ad9af72f8aa552dc4aaeca3/behavior
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_system_info.yml
author: Joseliyo Sanchez, @Joseliyo_Jstnk, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-12-19
modified: 2024-01-15
tags:
- attack.discovery
- attack.t1082
- detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_wmic:
- Description: WMI Commandline Utility
- OriginalFileName: wmic.exe
- Image|endswith: \WMIC.exe
selection_get:
CommandLine|contains: get
selection_classes:
CommandLine|contains:
- baseboard
- bios
- cpu
- diskdrive
- logicaldisk
- memphysical
- os
- path
- startup
- win32_videocontroller
selection_attributes:
CommandLine|contains:
- caption
- command
- driverversion
- maxcapacity
- name
- osarchitecture
- product
- size
- smbiosbiosversion
- version
- videomodedescription
filter_optional_vmtools:
ParentCommandLine|contains: \VMware\VMware Tools\serviceDiscovery\scripts\
condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
- VMWare Tools serviceDiscovery scripts
level: low
license: DRL-1.1