Rare Remote Thread Creation By Uncommon Source Image

 Original Source: [Sigma source]
Title: Rare Remote Thread Creation By Uncommon Source Image
Status: test
Description:Detects uncommon processes creating remote threads.
References:
  -Personal research, statistical analysis
  -https://lolbas-project.github.io
Author: Perez Diego (@darkquassar), oscd.community
Date: 2019-10-27
modified:2025-12-08
Tags:
  • -'attack.privilege-escalation'
  • -'attack.stealth'
  • -'attack.t1055'
Logsource:
  • product: windows
  • category: create_remote_thread
Detection:
  selection:
    SourceImage|endswith:
      -'\bash.exe'
      -'\cscript.exe'
      -'\cvtres.exe'
      -'\defrag.exe'
      -'\dialer.exe'
      -'\dnx.exe'
      -'\esentutl.exe'
      -'\excel.exe'
      -'\expand.exe'
      -'\find.exe'
      -'\findstr.exe'
      -'\forfiles.exe'
      -'\gpupdate.exe'
      -'\hh.exe'
      -'\installutil.exe'
      -'\lync.exe'
      -'\makecab.exe'
      -'\mDNSResponder.exe'
      -'\monitoringhost.exe'
      -'\msbuild.exe'
      -'\mshta.exe'
      -'\mspaint.exe'
      -'\outlook.exe'
      -'\ping.exe'
      -'\provtool.exe'
      -'\python.exe'
      -'\regsvr32.exe'
      -'\robocopy.exe'
      -'\runonce.exe'
      -'\sapcimc.exe'
      -'\smartscreen.exe'
      -'\spoolsv.exe'
      -'\tstheme.exe'
      -'\userinit.exe'
      -'\vssadmin.exe'
      -'\vssvc.exe'
      -'\w3wp.exe'
      -'\winscp.exe'
      -'\winword.exe'
      -'\wmic.exe'
      -'\wscript.exe'

  filter_main_conhost:
    SourceImage:
      -'C:\Windows\System32\Defrag.exe'
      -'C:\Windows\System32\makecab.exe'

    TargetImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\conhost.exe'
  filter_main_provtol_svchost:
    SourceImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\provtool.exe'
    TargetImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe'
  filter_main_provtool_system:
    SourceImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\provtool.exe'
    TargetImage: 'System'
  filter_main_userinit:
    SourceImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\userinit.exe'
    TargetImage: 'C:\Windows\explorer.exe'
  filter_main_winword:
    SourceImage|endswith: '\WINWORD.EXE'
    TargetImage|startswith:
      -'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
      -'C:\Program Files\'

  filter_main_ms_office:
    SourceImage|startswith:
      -'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\'
      -'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\'

    TargetImage: 'System'
  filter_optional_explorer_vmtools:
    SourceImage|endswith: '\SysWOW64\explorer.exe'
    TargetImage:
      -'C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Tools\vmtoolsd.exe'
      -'C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\vmtoolsd.exe'

  condition:selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
Falsepositives:
  -This rule is best put in testing first in order to create a baseline that reflects the data in your environment.
Level: high