Windows WMIC Uninstall/Terminate Actions Targeting Security Products

Flags WMIC commands on Windows that attempt to uninstall or terminate security products or sensors using known vendor/product strings.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-01-30
Updated: 2026-07-30

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Recon
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 Windows command-line activity that uses WMIC to uninstall or terminate software associated with security products. Such behavior is commonly used by attackers to disable defenses and reduce detection or prevention capabilities. The detection relies on process creation command-line telemetry containing WMIC uninstall/terminate patterns and product-identifying strings (e.g., common AV/EDR vendor names or “Endpoint Security” related terms).

Reporting behind it

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Windows WMIC Uninstall/Terminate Actions Targeting Security Products

Pivot detection · T1685 · 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-uninstall-terminate-actions-targeting-security-products-847d5ff3

title: Windows WMIC Uninstall/Terminate Actions Targeting Security Products
id: 61861f88-e535-49d2-b3c0-3a4cbbb0b013
related:
  - id: b53317a0-8acf-4fd1-8de8-a5401e776b96
    type: derived
  - id: 847d5ff3-8a31-4737-a970-aeae8fe21765
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies Windows command-line activity that uses WMIC to uninstall or terminate software associated with security products. Such behavior is commonly used by attackers to disable defenses and reduce detection or prevention capabilities. The detection relies on process creation command-line telemetry containing WMIC uninstall/terminate patterns and product-identifying strings (e.g., common AV/EDR vendor names or “Endpoint Security” related terms).
references:
  - https://twitter.com/cglyer/status/1355171195654709249
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/10/18/icedid-to-xinglocker-ransomware-in-24-hours/
  - https://www.mandiant.com/resources/unc2165-shifts-to-evade-sanctions
  - https://research.nccgroup.com/2022/08/19/back-in-black-unlocking-a-lockbit-3-0-ransomware-attack/
  - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/a/vice-society-ransomware-group-targets-manufacturing-companies.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_uninstall_security_products.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-01-30
modified: 2025-12-15
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_cli_1:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - wmic
      - "product "
      - uninstall
    CommandLine|contains|windash: /nointeractive
  selection_cli_2:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - wmic
      - "caption like "
    CommandLine|contains:
      - call delete
      - call terminate
  selection_cli_3:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - "process "
      - "where "
      - delete
  selection_product:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - "%carbon%"
      - "%cylance%"
      - "%endpoint%"
      - "%eset%"
      - "%malware%"
      - "%Sophos%"
      - "%symantec%"
      - Antivirus
      - "AVG "
      - Carbon Black
      - CarbonBlack
      - Cb Defense Sensor 64-bit
      - Crowdstrike Sensor
      - "Cylance "
      - Dell Threat Defense
      - DLP Endpoint
      - Endpoint Detection
      - Endpoint Protection
      - Endpoint Security
      - Endpoint Sensor
      - ESET File Security
      - LogRhythm System Monitor Service
      - Malwarebytes
      - McAfee Agent
      - Microsoft Security Client
      - Sophos Anti-Virus
      - Sophos AutoUpdate
      - Sophos Credential Store
      - Sophos Management Console
      - Sophos Management Database
      - Sophos Management Server
      - Sophos Remote Management System
      - Sophos Update Manager
      - Threat Protection
      - VirusScan
      - Webroot SecureAnywhere
      - Windows Defender
  condition: 1 of selection_cli_* and selection_product
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate administration
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_uninstall_security_products/info.yml
license: DRL-1.1

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