{"id":"dfa03a09-8b92-4d83-8e74-f72839b1c407","title":"Potentially Suspicious Child Processes Spawned by ConHost","description":"Detects suspicious child processes related to Windows Shell utilities spawned by `conhost.exe`, which could indicate malicious activity using trusted system components.","author":"Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)","status":"experimental","level":"high","date":"2025-02-05","modified":"","tags":["attack.stealth","attack.t1202","attack.t1218"],"technique_ids":["T1202","T1218"],"logsource":{"category":"process_creation","product":"windows"},"falsepositives":["Legitimate administrative tasks using `conhost.exe` to spawn child processes such as `cmd.exe`, `powershell.exe`, or `regsvr32.exe`."],"references":["https://tria.ge/241015-l98snsyeje/behavioral2"],"source_path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_conhost_susp_winshell_child_process.yml","source_sha256":"cbd77556fd15c351d3b9ea7b124b798b4928e61527cb9cba4ece9729141a6be3","source_url":"https://github.com/anpa1200/sigma/blob/b249e9683190cffdcaf188ccbfb90bf4759844e1/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_conhost_susp_winshell_child_process.yml","license":"Detection Rule License 1.1","license_url":"https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License/blob/main/LICENSE.Detection.Rules.md","yaml":"title: Potentially Suspicious Child Processes Spawned by ConHost\nid: dfa03a09-8b92-4d83-8e74-f72839b1c407\nrelated:\n    - id: 7dc2dedd-7603-461a-bc13-15803d132355\n      type: similar\nstatus: experimental\ndescription: Detects suspicious child processes related to Windows Shell utilities spawned by `conhost.exe`, which could indicate malicious activity using trusted system components.\nreferences:\n    - https://tria.ge/241015-l98snsyeje/behavioral2\nauthor: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)\ndate: 2025-02-05\ntags:\n    - attack.stealth\n    - attack.t1202\n    - attack.t1218\nlogsource:\n    category: process_creation\n    product: windows\ndetection:\n    selection_parent:\n        ParentImage|endswith: '\\conhost.exe'\n    selection_child:\n        - Image|endswith:\n              - '\\cmd.exe'             # Windows Command Prompt\n              - '\\cscript.exe'         # Windows Script Host (used for scripting exploits)\n              - '\\mshta.exe'           # MSHTA (HTML Application Host, often abused)\n              - '\\powershell_ise.exe'  # PowerShell ISE\n              - '\\powershell.exe'      # Windows PowerShell\n              - '\\pwsh.exe'            # PowerShell Core\n              - '\\regsvr32.exe'        # Windows Registry Server (commonly used for exploits)\n              - '\\wscript.exe'         # Windows Script Host (for executing scripts)\n        - OriginalFileName:\n              - 'cmd.exe'\n              - 'cscript.exe'\n              - 'mshta.exe'\n              - 'powershell_ise.exe'\n              - 'powershell.exe'\n              - 'pwsh.dll'\n              - 'regsvr32.exe'\n              - 'wscript.exe'\n    condition: all of selection_*\nfalsepositives:\n    - Legitimate administrative tasks using `conhost.exe` to spawn child processes such as `cmd.exe`, `powershell.exe`, or `regsvr32.exe`.\nlevel: high\n","validation":"yaml_parsed_not_backend_compiled_or_live_validated","techniques":[{"key":"enterprise/T1202","id":"T1202","name":"Indirect Command Execution","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1202/"},{"key":"enterprise/T1218","id":"T1218","name":"System Binary Proxy Execution","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1218/"}],"data_path":"data/detection-rules/dfa03a09-8b92-4d83-8e74-f72839b1c407.json","kind":"sigma"}