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
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 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.