File Download Via Bitsadmin To A Suspicious Target Folder — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2022-06-28 / 2025-12-10.

{
  "category": "process_creation",
  "product": "windows"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 3a8da5214cd719fef00fcd3d081d57eac045a4fbe52dcb1cefe52406fa868387

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

title: File Download Via Bitsadmin To A Suspicious Target Folder
id: 2ddef153-167b-4e89-86b6-757a9e65dcac
related:
    - id: 6e30c82f-a9f8-4aab-b79c-7c12bce6f248
      type: obsolete
    - id: 1cf465a1-2609-4c15-9b66-c32dbe4bfd67
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects usage of bitsadmin downloading a file to a suspicious target folder
references:
    - https://blog.netspi.com/15-ways-to-download-a-file/#bitsadmin
    - https://isc.sans.edu/diary/22264
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Bitsadmin/
    - https://blog.talosintelligence.com/breaking-the-silence-recent-truebot-activity/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-06-28
modified: 2025-12-10
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1197
    - attack.s0190
    - attack.t1036.003
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1105
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\bitsadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'bitsadmin.exe'
    selection_flags:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' /transfer '
            - ' /create '
            - ' /addfile '
    selection_folder:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ':\Perflogs'
            - ':\ProgramData\'
            - ':\Temp\'
            - ':\Users\Public\'
            - ':\Windows\'
            - '\$Recycle.Bin\'
            - '\AppData\Local\'
            - '\AppData\Roaming\'
            - '\Contacts\'
            - '\Desktop\'
            - '\Favorites\'
            - '\Favourites\'
            - '\inetpub\wwwroot\'
            - '\Music\'
            - '\Pictures\'
            - '\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\'
            - '\Users\Default\'
            - '\Videos\'
            - '%ProgramData%'
            - '%public%'
            - '%temp%'
            - '%tmp%'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_bitsadmin_download_susp_targetfolder/info.yml
simulation:
    - type: atomic-red-team
      name: Windows - BITSAdmin BITS Download
      technique: T1105
      atomic_guid: a1921cd3-9a2d-47d5-a891-f1d0f2a7a31b

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Unknown

Source references

• https://blog.netspi.com/15-ways-to-download-a-file/#bitsadmin
• https://isc.sans.edu/diary/22264
• https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Bitsadmin/
• https://blog.talosintelligence.com/breaking-the-silence-recent-truebot-activity/