huntrule

Windows File Events: wmiexec Default Output File Creation (__1<9 digits>.<1-7 digits>)

Detects Windows file creation matching wmiexec default output filename patterns in admin share and drive paths.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v2
Product
windows
Category
file_event
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-06-02
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 flags Windows file creation events matching the default output filename pattern used by the wmiexec tool, including common drive-based variants (e.g., C:\__1<digits>.<digits> and admin share paths). Such temporary/output file creation is a recognizable artifact of wmiexec-style lateral movement and remote execution behavior. It relies on file event telemetry that includes TargetFilename and evaluates the filename path against the specified regular expressions.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1047 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Impacket Style Command Execution with ADMIN Share Output Redirect
Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion via WMIC via Process Creation (via process_creation)
Suspicious System Reconnaissance Output Redirected to PDF File (via process_creation)
Suspicious Phantom Taurus mssq.bat SQL Execution via WMI (via process_creation)
Malicious Antivirus Removal via WMIC Product Uninstall
Suspicious Remote Process Creation via WMIC by Mallox
Malicious Akira Shadow Copy Deletion via PowerShell WMI (via process_creation)
Suspicious Sysinternals EULA Acceptance Registry Write Linked to INC Ransomware
Malicious Shadow Copy Deletion via WMI PowerShell
Windows File Events: wmiexec Default Output File Creation (__1<9 digits>.<1-7 digits>)
Pivot detection · T1047 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.