{"id":"3b4e950b-a3ea-44d3-877e-432071990709","title":"Notepad Password Files Discovery","description":"Detects the execution of Notepad to open a file that has the string \"password\" which may indicate unauthorized access to credentials or suspicious activity.","author":"The DFIR Report","status":"experimental","level":"low","date":"2025-02-21","modified":"","tags":["attack.discovery","attack.t1083"],"technique_ids":["T1083"],"logsource":{"product":"windows","category":"process_creation"},"falsepositives":["Legitimate use of opening files from remote hosts by administrators or users. However, storing passwords in text readable format could potentially be a violation of the organization's policy. Any match should be investigated further."],"references":["https://thedfirreport.com/2025/02/24/confluence-exploit-leads-to-lockbit-ransomware/","https://intel.thedfirreport.com/eventReports/view/57"],"source_path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_notepad_local_passwd_discovery.yml","source_sha256":"70653418593828626e573955ee5a5858058266916901c7abca418b58d243aa47","source_url":"https://github.com/anpa1200/sigma/blob/b249e9683190cffdcaf188ccbfb90bf4759844e1/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_notepad_local_passwd_discovery.yml","license":"Detection Rule License 1.1","license_url":"https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License/blob/main/LICENSE.Detection.Rules.md","yaml":"title: Notepad Password Files Discovery\nid: 3b4e950b-a3ea-44d3-877e-432071990709\nstatus: experimental\ndescription: Detects the execution of Notepad to open a file that has the string \"password\" which may indicate unauthorized access to credentials or suspicious activity.\nreferences:\n    - https://thedfirreport.com/2025/02/24/confluence-exploit-leads-to-lockbit-ransomware/\n    - https://intel.thedfirreport.com/eventReports/view/57  # Private Report\nauthor: 'The DFIR Report'\ntags:\n    - attack.discovery\n    - attack.t1083\ndate: 2025-02-21\nlogsource:\n    product: windows\n    category: process_creation\ndetection:\n    selection:\n        ParentImage|endswith: '\\explorer.exe'\n        Image|endswith: '\\notepad.exe'\n        CommandLine|endswith:\n        # Note: Commandline to contain a file with the string password and a specific extension\n            - 'password*.txt'\n            - 'password*.csv'\n            - 'password*.doc'\n            - 'password*.xls'\n    condition: selection\nfalsepositives:\n    - Legitimate use of opening files from remote hosts by administrators or users. However, storing passwords in text readable format could potentially be a violation of the organization's policy. Any match should be investigated further.\nlevel: low\n","validation":"yaml_parsed_not_backend_compiled_or_live_validated","techniques":[{"key":"enterprise/T1083","id":"T1083","name":"File and Directory Discovery","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1083/"}],"data_path":"data/detection-rules/3b4e950b-a3ea-44d3-877e-432071990709.json","kind":"sigma"}