Mstsc.EXE Execution With Local RDP File — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Christopher Peacock @securepeacock. Source status: test; severity: low. Source dates: 2023-04-18 / 2023-04-30.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: f3642e54fd643729c9ce22428056c3c18f9c4d587c9bec53ccf0e7be0276b9aa

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: Mstsc.EXE Execution With Local RDP File
id: 5fdce3ac-e7f9-4ecd-a3aa-a4d78ebbf0af
status: test
description: Detects potential RDP connection via Mstsc using a local ".rdp" file
references:
    - https://www.blackhillsinfosec.com/rogue-rdp-revisiting-initial-access-methods/
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20230726144748/https://blog.thickmints.dev/mintsights/detecting-rogue-rdp/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Christopher Peacock @securepeacock
date: 2023-04-18
modified: 2023-04-30
tags:
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1219.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\mstsc.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'mstsc.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|endswith:
            - '.rdp'
            - '.rdp"'
    filter_optional_wsl:
        ParentImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\lxss\wslhost.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\WSL\wslg.rdp'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Likely with legitimate usage of ".rdp" files
level: low

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Likely with legitimate usage of ".rdp" files

Source references

• https://www.blackhillsinfosec.com/rogue-rdp-revisiting-initial-access-methods/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20230726144748/https://blog.thickmints.dev/mintsights/detecting-rogue-rdp/