title: Renamed FTP.EXE Execution
id: 277a4393-446c-449a-b0ed-7fdc7795244c
status: test
description: Detects the execution of a renamed "ftp.exe" binary based on the PE metadata fields
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Ftp/
author: Victor Sergeev, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-09
modified: 2023-02-03
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059
    - attack.t1202
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_original:
        OriginalFileName: 'ftp.exe'
    filter_img:
        Image|endswith: '\ftp.exe'
    condition: selection_original and not filter_img
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_renamed_ftp/info.yml

title: Indirect Command Execution via SFTP ProxyCommand
id: 762bb580-79b4-40f4-8b9e-9349ce1710f4
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the use of SFTP.exe to execute commands indirectly via ProxyCommand parameter.
    Threat actors were seen leveraging this legitimate Windows binary to bypass security controls and execute arbitrary commands while evading detection.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Sftp/
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2025/05/09/lumma-stealer-coming-and-going/
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2026-04-27
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1202
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\sftp.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: 'ProxyCommand='
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of SFTP with proxy commands for administration or networking tasks
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_sftp_indirect_cmd_execution/info.yml

title: Use Of The SFTP.EXE Binary As A LOLBIN
id: a85ffc3a-e8fd-4040-93bf-78aff284d801
status: test
description: Detects the usage of the "sftp.exe" binary as a LOLBIN by abusing the "-D" flag
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/pull/264
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-11-10
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\sftp.exe' # The "sftp.exe" located in the OpenSSH directory has no OriginalFileName :(
        CommandLine|contains:
            # Since "-D" is a valid flag for other usage we assume the user is going to enter a path
            # Either a full one like "C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe" or a relative one "..\..\..\Windows\System32\calc.exe"
            # In my testing you can't execute direct binaries by their name via this method (if you found a way please update the rule)
            - ' -D ..'
            - ' -D C:\'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Potential Arbitrary Command Execution Via FTP.EXE
id: 06b401f4-107c-4ff9-947f-9ec1e7649f1e
status: test
description: Detects execution of "ftp.exe" script with the "-s" or "/s" flag and any child processes ran by "ftp.exe".
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Ftp/
author: Victor Sergeev, oscd.community
date: 2020-10-09
modified: 2024-04-23
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1059
    - attack.t1202
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_parent:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\ftp.exe'
    selection_child_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\ftp.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'ftp.exe'
    selection_child_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '-s:'
    condition: selection_parent or all of selection_child_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium