{"id":"0e7163d4-9e19-4fa7-9be6-000c61aad77a","title":"CobaltStrike Named Pipe Pattern Regex","description":"Detects the creation of a named pipe matching a pattern used by CobaltStrike Malleable C2 profiles","author":"Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)","status":"test","level":"critical","date":"2021-07-30","modified":"2026-06-18","tags":["attack.privilege-escalation","attack.stealth","attack.t1055"],"technique_ids":["T1055"],"logsource":{"product":"windows","category":"pipe_created","definition":"Note that you have to configure logging for Named Pipe Events in Sysmon config (Event ID 17 and Event ID 18). The basic configuration is in popular sysmon configuration (https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config), but it is worth verifying. You can also use other repo, e.g. https://github.com/Neo23x0/sysmon-config, https://github.com/olafhartong/sysmon-modular You can also use other repo, e.g. https://github.com/Neo23x0/sysmon-config, https://github.com/olafhartong/sysmon-modular. How to test detection? You can always use Cobalt Strike, but also you can check powershell script from this site https://svch0st.medium.com/guide-to-named-pipes-and-hunting-for-cobalt-strike-pipes-dc46b2c5f575"},"falsepositives":["Unknown"],"references":["https://svch0st.medium.com/guide-to-named-pipes-and-hunting-for-cobalt-strike-pipes-dc46b2c5f575","https://gist.github.com/MHaggis/6c600e524045a6d49c35291a21e10752"],"source_path":"rules/windows/pipe_created/pipe_created_hktl_cobaltstrike_re.yml","source_sha256":"3474c2d7bb1f4ffe78617a5da797f0c0b288702c5466731b76a6b20f16a6a23d","source_url":"https://github.com/anpa1200/sigma/blob/b249e9683190cffdcaf188ccbfb90bf4759844e1/rules/windows/pipe_created/pipe_created_hktl_cobaltstrike_re.yml","license":"Detection Rule License 1.1","license_url":"https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License/blob/main/LICENSE.Detection.Rules.md","yaml":"title: CobaltStrike Named Pipe Pattern Regex\nid: 0e7163d4-9e19-4fa7-9be6-000c61aad77a\nrelated:\n    - id: 85adeb13-4fc9-4e68-8a4a-c7cb2c336eb7 # Patterns\n      type: similar\n    - id: d5601f8c-b26f-4ab0-9035-69e11a8d4ad2 # Generic\n      type: similar\nstatus: test\ndescription: Detects the creation of a named pipe matching a pattern used by CobaltStrike Malleable C2 profiles\nreferences:\n    - https://svch0st.medium.com/guide-to-named-pipes-and-hunting-for-cobalt-strike-pipes-dc46b2c5f575\n    - https://gist.github.com/MHaggis/6c600e524045a6d49c35291a21e10752\nauthor: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)\ndate: 2021-07-30\nmodified: 2026-06-18\ntags:\n    - attack.privilege-escalation\n    - attack.stealth\n    - attack.t1055\nlogsource:\n    product: windows\n    category: pipe_created\n    definition: 'Note that you have to configure logging for Named Pipe Events in Sysmon config (Event ID 17 and Event ID 18). The basic configuration is in popular sysmon configuration (https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config), but it is worth verifying. You can also use other repo, e.g. https://github.com/Neo23x0/sysmon-config, https://github.com/olafhartong/sysmon-modular You can also use other repo, e.g. https://github.com/Neo23x0/sysmon-config, https://github.com/olafhartong/sysmon-modular. How to test detection? You can always use Cobalt Strike, but also you can check powershell script from this site https://svch0st.medium.com/guide-to-named-pipes-and-hunting-for-cobalt-strike-pipes-dc46b2c5f575'\ndetection:\n    selection:\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\mojo\\.5688\\.8052\\.(?:183894939787088877|35780273329370473)[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\wkssvc_?[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\ntsvcs[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\DserNamePipe[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\SearchTextHarvester[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\mypipe-(?:f|h)[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\windows\\.update\\.manager[0-9a-f]{2,3}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\ntsvcs_[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\scerpc_?[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\PGMessagePipe[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\MsFteWds[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\f4c3[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\fullduplex_[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\msrpc_[0-9a-f]{4}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\win\\\\msrpc_[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\f53f[0-9a-f]{2}$'  # https://docs.limacharlie.io/3-detection-response/unit-tests/#example\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\rpc_[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\spoolss_[0-9a-f]{2}'\n        - PipeName|re: '\\\\Winsock2\\\\CatalogChangeListener-[0-9a-f]{3}-0,'\n    condition: selection\nfalsepositives:\n    - Unknown\nlevel: critical\n","validation":"yaml_parsed_not_backend_compiled_or_live_validated","techniques":[{"key":"enterprise/T1055","id":"T1055","name":"Process Injection","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1055/"}],"data_path":"data/detection-rules/0e7163d4-9e19-4fa7-9be6-000c61aad77a.json","kind":"sigma"}