Windows WMIC System Reconnaissance Using "computersystem" Flag

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1047Windows Management Instrumentation
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies execution of wmic.exe with the "computersystem" flag, which queries host information such as domain, username, and hardware model. Attackers often use this kind of built-in system discovery to collect environment details before further actions. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the executable name and the command-line content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1047 — drag to rearrange

Malicious UAT-8302 Remote Process Execution via wmic

Malicious Remote Encryptor Execution via WMIC Process Call Create (Chaos Ransomware)

Malicious Impacket Wmiexec Remote Command Execution Pattern

Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion Via WMI

Suspicious Remote Process Creation via WMIC Process Call Create (via process_creation)

Suspicious System Reconnaissance via WMI Command-Line Queries (via process_creation)

Malicious Impacket WMIexec Process Execution (via process_creation)

Suspicious Child Process Spawned by WMI Provider Host (via process_creation)

Malicious WMI Spwaning PowerShell Process - WMImplant (via process_creation)

Windows WMIC System Reconnaissance Using "computersystem" Flag

Pivot detection · T1047 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

windows-wmic-system-reconnaissance-using-computersystem-flag-9d7ca793

title: Windows WMIC System Reconnaissance Using "computersystem" Flag
id: f0b13b6d-b557-4579-a9ba-b6803db23c44
status: test
description: This rule identifies execution of wmic.exe with the "computersystem" flag, which queries host information such as domain, username, and hardware model. Attackers often use this kind of built-in system discovery to collect environment details before further actions. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the executable name and the command-line content.
references:
  - https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/09/07/profiling-dev-0270-phosphorus-ransomware-operations/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_computersystem.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-09-08
modified: 2023-02-14
tags:
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1047
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \wmic.exe
    - OriginalFileName: wmic.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains: computersystem
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_computersystem/info.yml
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 9d7ca793-f6bd-471c-8d0f-11e68b2f0d2f
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL