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Elastic Docs ›Elastic Security Solution [8.4] ›Detections and alerts ›Prebuilt rule reference

Execution from Unusual Directory - Command Line

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Execution from Unusual Directory - Command Line

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Identifies process execution from suspicious default Windows directories. This may be abused by adversaries to hide malware in trusted paths.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

  • winlogbeat-*
  • logs-endpoint.events.*
  • logs-windows.*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5 minutes

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

Tags:

  • Elastic
  • Host
  • Windows
  • Threat Detection
  • Execution
  • Defense Evasion

Version: 7 (version history)

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.11.0

Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 8.4.0

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Investigation guide

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## Triage and analysis

This is related to the `Process Execution from an Unusual Directory rule`.

Rule query

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process where event.type in ("start", "process_started", "info") and
process.name : ("wscript.exe", "cscript.exe",
"rundll32.exe", "regsvr32.exe",
"cmstp.exe", "RegAsm.exe",
"installutil.exe", "mshta.exe",
"RegSvcs.exe", "powershell.exe",
"pwsh.exe", "cmd.exe") and /* add suspicious
execution paths here */ process.args : ("C:\\PerfLogs\\*",
"C:\\Users\\Public\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Tasks\\*",
"C:\\Intel\\*", "C:\\AMD\\Temp\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\AppReadiness\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ServiceState\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\security\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\IdentityCRL\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Branding\\*", "C:\\Windows\\csc\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\DigitalLocker\\*", "C:\\Windows\\en-
US\\*", "C:\\Windows\\wlansvc\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Prefetch\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Fonts\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\diagnostics\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\TAPI\\*", "C:\\Windows\\INF\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\System32\\Speech\\*",
"C:\\windows\\tracing\\*", "c:\\windows\\IME\\*",
"c:\\Windows\\Performance\\*",
"c:\\windows\\intel\\*", "c:\\windows\\ms\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\dot3svc\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\panther\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\RemotePackages\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\OCR\\*", "C:\\Windows\\appcompat\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\apppatch\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\addins\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Setup\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Help\\*", "C:\\Windows\\SKB\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Vss\\*", "C:\\Windows\\servicing\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\CbsTemp\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Logs\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\WaaS\\*", "C:\\Windows\\twain_32\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ShellExperiences\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ShellComponents\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\PLA\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Migration\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\debug\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Cursors\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Containers\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Boot\\*", "C:\\Windows\\bcastdvr\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\TextInput\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\security\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\schemas\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\SchCache\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Resources\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\rescache\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Provisioning\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\PrintDialog\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\PolicyDefinitions\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\media\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Globalization\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\L2Schemas\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\LiveKernelReports\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ModemLogs\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ImmersiveControlPanel\\*",
"C:\\$Recycle.Bin\\*") and /* noisy FP patterns */ not
process.parent.executable : ("C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\DriverStore\\File
Repository\\*\\igfxCUIService*.exe",
"C:\\Windows\\System32\\spacedeskService.exe",
"C:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SupportAssistAgent\\SRE\\SRE.exe") and not
(process.name : "rundll32.exe" and process.args :
("uxtheme.dll,#64", "PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry",
"?:\\Windows\\System32\\FirewallControlPanel.dll,ShowNotificationDialo
g",
"?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\Speech\\SpeechUX\\sapi.cpl",
"?:\\Windows\\system32\\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL")) and not
(process.name : "cscript.exe" and process.args :
"?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\calluxxprovider.vbs") and not (process.name
: "cmd.exe" and process.args : "?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\powercfg.exe"
and process.args : "?:\\WINDOWS\\inf\\PowerPlan.log") and not
(process.name : "regsvr32.exe" and process.args :
"?:\\Windows\\Help\\OEM\\scripts\\checkmui.dll") and not
(process.name : "cmd.exe" and process.parent.executable :
("?:\\Windows\\System32\\oobe\\windeploy.exe",
"?:\\Program Files (x86)\\ossec-agent\\wazuh-agent.exe",
"?:\\Windows\\System32\\igfxCUIService.exe",
"?:\\Windows\\Temp\\IE*.tmp\\IE*-support\\ienrcore.exe"))

Threat mapping

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Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

Rule version history

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Version 7 (8.4.0 release)

  • Updated query, changed from:

    process where event.type in ("start", "process_started", "info") and
process.name : ("wscript.exe", "cscript.exe",
"rundll32.exe", "regsvr32.exe",
"cmstp.exe", "RegAsm.exe",
"installutil.exe", "mshta.exe",
"RegSvcs.exe", "powershell.exe",
"pwsh.exe", "cmd.exe") and /*
add suspicious execution paths here */ process.args :
("C:\\PerfLogs\\*", "C:\\Users\\Public\\*",
"C:\\Users\\Default\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Tasks\\*",
"C:\\Intel\\*", "C:\\AMD\\Temp\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\AppReadiness\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ServiceState\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\security\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\IdentityCRL\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Branding\\*", "C:\\Windows\\csc\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\DigitalLocker\\*", "C:\\Windows\\en-
US\\*", "C:\\Windows\\wlansvc\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Prefetch\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Fonts\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\diagnostics\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\TAPI\\*", "C:\\Windows\\INF\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\System32\\Speech\\*",
"C:\\windows\\tracing\\*", "c:\\windows\\IME\\*",
"c:\\Windows\\Performance\\*",
"c:\\windows\\intel\\*", "c:\\windows\\ms\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\dot3svc\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ServiceProfiles\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\panther\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\RemotePackages\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\OCR\\*", "C:\\Windows\\appcompat\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\apppatch\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\addins\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Setup\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Help\\*", "C:\\Windows\\SKB\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Vss\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Web\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\servicing\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\CbsTemp\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Logs\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\WaaS\\*", "C:\\Windows\\twain_32\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ShellExperiences\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ShellComponents\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\PLA\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Migration\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\debug\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Cursors\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Containers\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Boot\\*", "C:\\Windows\\bcastdvr\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\assembly\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\TextInput\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\security\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\schemas\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\SchCache\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Resources\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\rescache\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Provisioning\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\PrintDialog\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\PolicyDefinitions\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\media\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\Globalization\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\L2Schemas\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\LiveKernelReports\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ModemLogs\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\ImmersiveControlPanel\\*",
"C:\\$Recycle.Bin\\*") and not process.parent.executable : ("C:\\WIN
DOWS\\System32\\DriverStore\\FileRepository\\*\\igfxCUIService*.exe",
"C:\\Windows\\System32\\spacedeskService.exe",
"C:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SupportAssistAgent\\SRE\\SRE.exe") and not
(process.name : "rundll32.exe" and process.args : ("uxtheme.dll,#64",
"PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry"))
Version 5 (8.2.0 release)
  • Formatting only
Version 4 (7.13.0 release)

  • Updated query, changed from:

    process where event.type in ("start", "process_started", "info") and
process.name : ("wscript.exe","cscript.exe","rundll32.exe","regsvr32.e
xe","cmstp.exe","RegAsm.exe","installutil.exe","mshta.exe","RegSvcs.ex
e", "powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe", "cmd.exe") and /* add suspicious
execution paths here */ process.args : ("C:\\PerfLogs\\*","C:\\Users\\
Public\\*","C:\\Users\\Default\\*","C:\\Windows\\Tasks\\*","C:\\Intel\
\*", "C:\\AMD\\Temp\\*", "C:\\Windows\\AppReadiness\\*", "C:\\Window
s\\ServiceState\\*","C:\\Windows\\security\\*","C:\\Windows\\IdentityC
RL\\*","C:\\Windows\\Branding\\*","C:\\Windows\\csc\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\DigitalLocker\\*","C:\\Windows\\en-US\\*","C:\\Windows\\
wlansvc\\*","C:\\Windows\\Prefetch\\*","C:\\Windows\\Fonts\\*", "C:\\
Windows\\diagnostics\\*","C:\\Windows\\TAPI\\*","C:\\Windows\\INF\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\System32\\Speech\\*","C:\\windows\\tracing\\*", "c:\\wi
ndows\\IME\\*","c:\\Windows\\Performance\\*","c:\\windows\\intel\\*","
c:\\windows\\ms\\*","C:\\Windows\\dot3svc\\*","C:\\Windows\\ServicePro
files\\*", "C:\\Windows\\panther\\*","C:\\Windows\\RemotePackages\\*"
,"C:\\Windows\\OCR\\*","C:\\Windows\\appcompat\\*","C:\\Windows\\apppa
tch\\*","C:\\Windows\\addins\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Setup\\*","C:\\Window
s\\Help\\*","C:\\Windows\\SKB\\*","C:\\Windows\\Vss\\*","C:\\Windows\\
Web\\*","C:\\Windows\\servicing\\*","C:\\Windows\\CbsTemp\\*", "C:\\W
indows\\Logs\\*","C:\\Windows\\WaaS\\*","C:\\Windows\\twain_32\\*","C:
\\Windows\\ShellExperiences\\*","C:\\Windows\\ShellComponents\\*","C:\
\Windows\\PLA\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Migration\\*","C:\\Windows\\debug\\*
","C:\\Windows\\Cursors\\*","C:\\Windows\\Containers\\*","C:\\Windows\
\Boot\\*","C:\\Windows\\bcastdvr\\*", "C:\\Windows\\assembly\\*","C:\
\Windows\\TextInput\\*","C:\\Windows\\security\\*","C:\\Windows\\schem
as\\*","C:\\Windows\\SchCache\\*","C:\\Windows\\Resources\\*", "C:\\W
indows\\rescache\\*","C:\\Windows\\Provisioning\\*","C:\\Windows\\Prin
tDialog\\*","C:\\Windows\\PolicyDefinitions\\*","C:\\Windows\\media\\*
", "C:\\Windows\\Globalization\\*","C:\\Windows\\L2Schemas\\*","C:\\W
indows\\LiveKernelReports\\*","C:\\Windows\\ModemLogs\\*","C:\\Windows
\\ImmersiveControlPanel\\*", "C:\\$Recycle.Bin\\*")
Version 3 (7.12.0 release)

  • Updated query, changed from:

    process where event.type in ("start", "process_started", "info") and
process.name : ("wscript.exe","cscript.exe","rundll32.exe","regsvr32.e
xe","cmstp.exe","RegAsm.exe","installutil.exe","mshta.exe","RegSvcs.ex
e") and /* add suspicious execution paths here */ process.args : ("C:
\\PerfLogs\\*","C:\\Users\\Public\\*","C:\\Users\\Default\\*","C:\\Win
dows\\Tasks\\*","C:\\Intel\\*", "C:\\AMD\\Temp\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\AppReadiness\\*", "C:\\Windows\\ServiceState\\*","C:\\Wi
ndows\\security\\*","C:\\Windows\\IdentityCRL\\*","C:\\Windows\\Brandi
ng\\*","C:\\Windows\\csc\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\DigitalLocker\\*","C:\\Windows\\en-US\\*","C:\\Windows\\
wlansvc\\*","C:\\Windows\\Prefetch\\*","C:\\Windows\\Fonts\\*", "C:\\
Windows\\diagnostics\\*","C:\\Windows\\TAPI\\*","C:\\Windows\\INF\\*",
"C:\\Windows\\System32\\Speech\\*","C:\\windows\\tracing\\*", "c:\\wi
ndows\\IME\\*","c:\\Windows\\Performance\\*","c:\\windows\\intel\\*","
c:\\windows\\ms\\*","C:\\Windows\\dot3svc\\*","C:\\Windows\\ServicePro
files\\*", "C:\\Windows\\panther\\*","C:\\Windows\\RemotePackages\\*"
,"C:\\Windows\\OCR\\*","C:\\Windows\\appcompat\\*","C:\\Windows\\apppa
tch\\*","C:\\Windows\\addins\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Setup\\*","C:\\Window
s\\Help\\*","C:\\Windows\\SKB\\*","C:\\Windows\\Vss\\*","C:\\Windows\\
Web\\*","C:\\Windows\\servicing\\*","C:\\Windows\\CbsTemp\\*", "C:\\W
indows\\Logs\\*","C:\\Windows\\WaaS\\*","C:\\Windows\\twain_32\\*","C:
\\Windows\\ShellExperiences\\*","C:\\Windows\\ShellComponents\\*","C:\
\Windows\\PLA\\*", "C:\\Windows\\Migration\\*","C:\\Windows\\debug\\*
","C:\\Windows\\Cursors\\*","C:\\Windows\\Containers\\*","C:\\Windows\
\Boot\\*","C:\\Windows\\bcastdvr\\*", "C:\\Windows\\assembly\\*","C:\
\Windows\\TextInput\\*","C:\\Windows\\security\\*","C:\\Windows\\schem
as\\*","C:\\Windows\\SchCache\\*","C:\\Windows\\Resources\\*", "C:\\W
indows\\rescache\\*","C:\\Windows\\Provisioning\\*","C:\\Windows\\Prin
tDialog\\*","C:\\Windows\\PolicyDefinitions\\*","C:\\Windows\\media\\*
", "C:\\Windows\\Globalization\\*","C:\\Windows\\L2Schemas\\*","C:\\W
indows\\LiveKernelReports\\*","C:\\Windows\\ModemLogs\\*","C:\\Windows
\\ImmersiveControlPanel\\*")
Version 2 (7.11.2 release)
  • Formatting only
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