WSL Process Execution of Kali Linux on Windows
Flags Kali Linux running under WSL on Windows using process creation image and command-line indicators.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2025-10-10
- Updated
- 2026-07-30
ATT&CK techniques
Defense EvasionRecon
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 Subsystem for Linux activity related to Kali Linux by matching process image paths and names associated with Kali WSL distributions and executables. Attackers may use Kali within WSL to run reconnaissance, tooling, or follow-on commands from a Windows host while blending into legitimate development/admin environments. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically Image, ParentImage, and CommandLine fields that include Kali WSL paths and identifiers.
Reporting behind it
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: WSL Process Execution of Kali Linux on Windows
id: f9046ee0-eba9-4cb8-8592-460d56ce65eb
status: experimental
description: This rule identifies Windows Subsystem for Linux activity related to Kali Linux by matching process image paths and names associated with Kali WSL distributions and executables. Attackers may use Kali within WSL to run reconnaissance, tooling, or follow-on commands from a Windows host while blending into legitimate development/admin environments. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically Image, ParentImage, and CommandLine fields that include Kali WSL paths and identifiers.
references:
- https://medium.com/@redfanatic7/running-kali-linux-on-windows-51ad95166e6e
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wsl_kali_linux_usage.yml
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2025-10-10
tags:
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1202
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img_appdata:
- Image|contains|all:
- :\Users\
- \AppData\Local\packages\KaliLinux
- Image|contains|all:
- :\Users\
- \AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\kali.exe
selection_img_windowsapps:
Image|contains: :\Program Files\WindowsApps\KaliLinux.
Image|endswith: \kali.exe
selection_kali_wsl_parent:
ParentImage|endswith:
- \wsl.exe
- \wslhost.exe
selection_kali_wsl_child:
- Image|contains:
- \kali.exe
- \KaliLinux
- CommandLine|contains:
- Kali.exe
- Kali-linux
- kalilinux
filter_main_install_uninstall:
CommandLine|contains:
- " -i "
- " --install "
- " --unregister "
condition: 1 of selection_img_* or all of selection_kali_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
- Legitimate installation or usage of Kali Linux WSL by administrators or security teams
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 6f1a11aa-4b8a-4b7f-9e13-4d3e4ff0e0d4
type: derived