Xwizard.EXE COM Execution with RunWizard and GUID Argument (Windows)
Alerts when Xwizard.EXE runs with RunWizard plus a GUID-like argument on Windows, consistent with COM execution usage.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Ensar Şamil, @sblmsrsn, @oscd_initiative, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2020-10-07
- 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 process executions of Xwizard.EXE where the command line contains the RunWizard flag along with a GUID-formatted argument. Attackers can use this behavior to trigger execution paths that rely on COM objects referenced via registry-registered components. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the full CommandLine string matching the RunWizard marker and a GUID pattern.
Reporting behind it
- lolbas-project.github.iohttps://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Xwizard/
- elastic.cohttps://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/execution-of-com-object-via-xwizard.html
- hexacorn.comhttps://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2017/07/31/the-wizard-of-x-oppa-plugx-style/
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_xwizard_runwizard_com_object_exec.yml
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: Xwizard.EXE COM Execution with RunWizard and GUID Argument (Windows)
id: 1f2bf33b-18f8-42db-af5e-2875c7c82788
status: test
description: This rule identifies process executions of Xwizard.EXE where the command line contains the RunWizard flag along with a GUID-formatted argument. Attackers can use this behavior to trigger execution paths that rely on COM objects referenced via registry-registered components. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the full CommandLine string matching the RunWizard marker and a GUID pattern.
references:
- https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Xwizard/
- https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/execution-of-com-object-via-xwizard.html
- https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2017/07/31/the-wizard-of-x-oppa-plugx-style/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_xwizard_runwizard_com_object_exec.yml
author: Ensar Şamil, @sblmsrsn, @oscd_initiative, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-07
modified: 2024-08-15
tags:
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1218
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection:
CommandLine: RunWizard
CommandLine|re: \{[a-fA-F0-9]{8}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{4}-[a-fA-F0-9]{12}\}
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 53d4bb30-3f36-4e8a-b078-69d36c4a79ff
type: derived