Network Connection Initiated By Eqnedt32.EXE — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2022-04-14 / 2024-05-31.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: b048bb87dca4cfdf8afc5583af741880c2308f9f05265db3be2705e2a4362a65

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: Network Connection Initiated By Eqnedt32.EXE
id: a66bc059-c370-472c-a0d7-f8fd1bf9d583
status: test
description: Detects network connections from the Equation Editor process "eqnedt32.exe".
references:
    - https://twitter.com/forensicitguy/status/1513538712986079238
    - https://forensicitguy.github.io/xloader-formbook-velvetsweatshop-spreadsheet/
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2019/07/18/a-new-equation-editor-exploit-goes-commercial-as-maldoc-attacks-using-it-spike/
author: Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-04-14
modified: 2024-05-31
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1203
logsource:
    category: network_connection
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\eqnedt32.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Unlikely

Source references

• https://twitter.com/forensicitguy/status/1513538712986079238
• https://forensicitguy.github.io/xloader-formbook-velvetsweatshop-spreadsheet/
• https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2019/07/18/a-new-equation-editor-exploit-goes-commercial-as-maldoc-attacks-using-it-spike/