Sigma is the open generic signature format for SIEM systems. Each rule below converts to native syntax for Splunk, Elastic, Sentinel, and other SIEMs. Expand any rule to see its raw YAML.
Detects the execution of different Windows based hacktools via PE metadata (company, product, etc.) even if the files have been renamed
status testauthor Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)id 37c1333a-a0db-48be-b64b-7393b2386e3b
view Sigma YAML
title: Hacktool Execution - PE Metadata
id: 37c1333a-a0db-48be-b64b-7393b2386e3b
status: test
description: Detects the execution of different Windows based hacktools via PE metadata (company, product, etc.) even if the files have been renamed
references:
- https://github.com/cube0x0
- https://www.virustotal.com/gui/search/metadata%253ACube0x0/files
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-04-27
modified: 2024-01-15
tags:
- attack.credential-access
- attack.resource-development
- attack.t1588.002
- attack.t1003
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection:
Company: 'Cube0x0' # Detects the use of tools created by a well-known hacktool producer named "Cube0x0", which includes his handle in all binaries as company information in the PE headers (SharpPrintNightmare, KrbRelay, SharpMapExec, etc.)
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unlikely
level: high
Suspicious Execution Of Renamed Sysinternals Tools - Registry
Detects the creation of the "accepteula" key related to the Sysinternals tools being created from executables with the wrong name (e.g. a renamed Sysinternals tool)
status testauthor Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)id f50f3c09-557d-492d-81db-9064a8d4e211
view Sigma YAML
title: Suspicious Execution Of Renamed Sysinternals Tools - Registry
id: f50f3c09-557d-492d-81db-9064a8d4e211
related:
- id: 25ffa65d-76d8-4da5-a832-3f2b0136e133
type: derived
- id: 8023f872-3f1d-4301-a384-801889917ab4
type: similar
status: test
description: Detects the creation of the "accepteula" key related to the Sysinternals tools being created from executables with the wrong name (e.g. a renamed Sysinternals tool)
references:
- Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-24
modified: 2025-10-26
tags:
- attack.resource-development
- attack.t1588.002
logsource:
product: windows
category: registry_set
detection:
selection:
TargetObject|contains:
# Please add new values while respecting the alphabetical order
- '\Active Directory Explorer'
- '\Handle'
- '\LiveKd'
- '\ProcDump'
- '\Process Explorer'
- '\PsExec'
- '\PsLoggedon'
- '\PsLoglist'
- '\PsPasswd'
- '\PsPing'
- '\PsService'
- '\SDelete'
TargetObject|endswith: '\EulaAccepted'
filter:
Image|endswith:
# Please add new values while respecting the alphabetical order
- '\ADExplorer.exe'
- '\ADExplorer64.exe'
- '\handle.exe'
- '\handle64.exe'
- '\livekd.exe'
- '\livekd64.exe'
- '\procdump.exe'
- '\procdump64.exe'
- '\procexp.exe'
- '\procexp64.exe'
- '\PsExec.exe'
- '\PsExec64.exe'
- '\PsLoggedon.exe'
- '\PsLoggedon64.exe'
- '\psloglist.exe'
- '\psloglist64.exe'
- '\pspasswd.exe'
- '\pspasswd64.exe'
- '\PsPing.exe'
- '\PsPing64.exe'
- '\PsService.exe'
- '\PsService64.exe'
- '\sdelete.exe'
condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
- Unlikely
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_pua_sysinternals_renamed_execution_via_eula/info.yml
high
Usage of Renamed Sysinternals Tools - RegistrySet
Detects non-sysinternals tools setting the "accepteula" key which normally is set on sysinternals tool execution
status testauthor Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)id 8023f872-3f1d-4301-a384-801889917ab4
view Sigma YAML
title: Usage of Renamed Sysinternals Tools - RegistrySet
id: 8023f872-3f1d-4301-a384-801889917ab4
related:
- id: 25ffa65d-76d8-4da5-a832-3f2b0136e133
type: derived
- id: f50f3c09-557d-492d-81db-9064a8d4e211
type: similar
status: test
description: Detects non-sysinternals tools setting the "accepteula" key which normally is set on sysinternals tool execution
references:
- Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-24
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
- attack.resource-development
- attack.t1588.002
logsource:
product: windows
category: registry_set
detection:
selection:
TargetObject|contains:
- '\PsExec'
- '\ProcDump'
- '\Handle'
- '\LiveKd'
- '\Process Explorer'
- '\PsLoglist'
- '\PsPasswd'
- '\Active Directory Explorer'
TargetObject|endswith: '\EulaAccepted'
filter_main_image_names:
Image|endswith:
- '\PsExec.exe'
- '\PsExec64.exe'
- '\procdump.exe'
- '\procdump64.exe'
- '\handle.exe'
- '\handle64.exe'
- '\livekd.exe'
- '\livekd64.exe'
- '\procexp.exe'
- '\procexp64.exe'
- '\psloglist.exe'
- '\psloglist64.exe'
- '\pspasswd.exe'
- '\pspasswd64.exe'
- '\ADExplorer.exe'
- '\ADExplorer64.exe'
filter_optional_null:
Image: null # Race condition with some logging tools
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
- Unlikely
level: high
medium
PUA - Sysinternals Tools Execution - Registry
Detects the execution of some potentially unwanted tools such as PsExec, Procdump, etc. (part of the Sysinternals suite) via the creation of the "accepteula" registry key.
status testauthor Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)id c7da8edc-49ae-45a2-9e61-9fd860e4e73d
view Sigma YAML
title: PUA - Sysinternals Tools Execution - Registry
id: c7da8edc-49ae-45a2-9e61-9fd860e4e73d
related:
- id: 25ffa65d-76d8-4da5-a832-3f2b0136e133
type: derived
- id: 9841b233-8df8-4ad7-9133-b0b4402a9014
type: obsolete
status: test
description: Detects the execution of some potentially unwanted tools such as PsExec, Procdump, etc. (part of the Sysinternals suite) via the creation of the "accepteula" registry key.
references:
- https://twitter.com/Moti_B/status/1008587936735035392
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-24
modified: 2025-10-26
tags:
- attack.resource-development
- attack.t1588.002
logsource:
product: windows
category: registry_set
detection:
selection:
TargetObject|contains:
- '\Active Directory Explorer'
- '\Handle'
- '\LiveKd'
- '\Process Explorer'
- '\ProcDump'
- '\PsExec'
- '\PsLoglist'
- '\PsPasswd'
- '\SDelete'
- '\Sysinternals' # Global level https://twitter.com/leonzandman/status/1561736801953382400
TargetObject|endswith: '\EulaAccepted'
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate use of SysInternals tools. Filter the legitimate paths used in your environment
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_pua_sysinternals_susp_execution_via_eula/info.yml
medium
Suspicious Keyboard Layout Load
Detects the keyboard preload installation with a suspicious keyboard layout, e.g. Chinese, Iranian or Vietnamese layout load in user session on systems maintained by US staff only
status testauthor Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)id 34aa0252-6039-40ff-951f-939fd6ce47d8
view Sigma YAML
title: Suspicious Keyboard Layout Load
id: 34aa0252-6039-40ff-951f-939fd6ce47d8
status: test
description: Detects the keyboard preload installation with a suspicious keyboard layout, e.g. Chinese, Iranian or Vietnamese layout load in user session on systems maintained by US staff only
references:
- https://renenyffenegger.ch/notes/Windows/registry/tree/HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Keyboard-Layout/Preload/index
- https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config/pull/92/files
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2019-10-12
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
- attack.resource-development
- attack.t1588.002
logsource:
category: registry_set
product: windows
definition: 'Requirements: Sysmon config that monitors \Keyboard Layout\Preload subkey of the HKLU hives - see https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config/pull/92/files'
detection:
selection_registry:
TargetObject|contains:
- '\Keyboard Layout\Preload\'
- '\Keyboard Layout\Substitutes\'
Details|contains:
- 00000429 # Persian (Iran)
- 00050429 # Persian (Iran)
- 0000042a # Vietnamese
condition: selection_registry
falsepositives:
- Administrators or users that actually use the selected keyboard layouts (heavily depends on the organisation's user base)
level: medium
low
PUA - Sysinternal Tool Execution - Registry
Detects the execution of a Sysinternals Tool via the creation of the "accepteula" registry key
status testauthor Markus Neisid 25ffa65d-76d8-4da5-a832-3f2b0136e133
view Sigma YAML
title: PUA - Sysinternal Tool Execution - Registry
id: 25ffa65d-76d8-4da5-a832-3f2b0136e133
status: test
description: Detects the execution of a Sysinternals Tool via the creation of the "accepteula" registry key
references:
- https://twitter.com/Moti_B/status/1008587936735035392
author: Markus Neis
date: 2017-08-28
modified: 2025-10-26
tags:
- attack.resource-development
- attack.t1588.002
logsource:
product: windows
category: registry_set
detection:
selection:
TargetObject|endswith: '\EulaAccepted'
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate use of SysInternals tools
- Programs that use the same Registry Key
level: low
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_pua_sysinternals_execution_via_eula/info.yml
low
Potential Execution of Sysinternals Tools
Detects command lines that contain the 'accepteula' flag which could be a sign of execution of one of the Sysinternals tools
status testauthor Markus Neisid 7cccd811-7ae9-4ebe-9afd-cb5c406b824b
view Sigma YAML
title: Potential Execution of Sysinternals Tools
id: 7cccd811-7ae9-4ebe-9afd-cb5c406b824b
related:
- id: 25ffa65d-76d8-4da5-a832-3f2b0136e133
type: derived
status: test
description: Detects command lines that contain the 'accepteula' flag which could be a sign of execution of one of the Sysinternals tools
references:
- https://twitter.com/Moti_B/status/1008587936735035392
author: Markus Neis
date: 2017-08-28
modified: 2024-03-13
tags:
- attack.resource-development
- attack.t1588.002
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection:
CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -accepteula'
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate use of SysInternals tools
- Programs that use the same command line flag
level: low