{"id":"9c8c7000-3065-44a8-a555-79bcba5d9955","title":"MSDT Execution Via Answer File","description":"Detects execution of \"msdt.exe\" using an answer file which is simulating the legitimate way of calling msdt via \"pcwrun.exe\" (For example from the compatibility tab).\n","author":"Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)","status":"test","level":"high","date":"2022-06-13","modified":"2025-10-29","tags":["attack.stealth","attack.t1218","attack.execution"],"technique_ids":["T1218"],"logsource":{"category":"process_creation","product":"windows"},"falsepositives":["Possible undocumented parents of \"msdt\" other than \"pcwrun\"."],"references":["https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Msdt/"],"source_path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_msdt_answer_file_exec.yml","source_sha256":"c95cde04afe98fb2e204d1c949b5c6589b3605b6de5a8205bf96a9e155fcb43c","source_url":"https://github.com/anpa1200/sigma/blob/b249e9683190cffdcaf188ccbfb90bf4759844e1/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_msdt_answer_file_exec.yml","license":"Detection Rule License 1.1","license_url":"https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License/blob/main/LICENSE.Detection.Rules.md","yaml":"title: MSDT Execution Via Answer File\nid: 9c8c7000-3065-44a8-a555-79bcba5d9955\nstatus: test\ndescription: |\n    Detects execution of \"msdt.exe\" using an answer file which is simulating the legitimate way of calling msdt via \"pcwrun.exe\" (For example from the compatibility tab).\nreferences:\n    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Msdt/\nauthor: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)\ndate: 2022-06-13\nmodified: 2025-10-29\ntags:\n    - attack.stealth\n    - attack.t1218\n    - attack.execution\nlogsource:\n    category: process_creation\n    product: windows\ndetection:\n    selection:\n        Image|endswith: '\\msdt.exe'\n        CommandLine|contains: '\\WINDOWS\\diagnostics\\index\\PCWDiagnostic.xml'\n        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -af '\n    filter_main_pcwrun:\n        ParentImage|endswith: '\\pcwrun.exe'\n    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*\nfalsepositives:\n    - Possible undocumented parents of \"msdt\" other than \"pcwrun\".\nlevel: high\n","validation":"yaml_parsed_not_backend_compiled_or_live_validated","techniques":[{"key":"enterprise/T1218","id":"T1218","name":"System Binary Proxy Execution","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1218/"}],"data_path":"data/detection-rules/9c8c7000-3065-44a8-a555-79bcba5d9955.json","kind":"sigma"}