New Generic Credentials Added Via Cmdkey.EXE — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: medium. Source dates: 2023-02-03 / 2024-03-05.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 81c2ef728ca9c48ea1d610cc382258bd56a9dca473543065c417e20989800e8a

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: New Generic Credentials Added Via Cmdkey.EXE
id: b1ec66c6-f4d1-4b5c-96dd-af28ccae7727
status: test
description: |
    Detects usage of "cmdkey.exe" to add generic credentials.
    As an example, this can be used before connecting to an RDP session via command line interface.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1021.001/T1021.001.md#t1021001---remote-desktop-protocol
author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-02-03
modified: 2024-03-05
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.005
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\cmdkey.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'cmdkey.exe'
    selection_cli_generic:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -g' # Generic
    selection_cli_user:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -u' # User
    selection_cli_password:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -p' # Password
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage for administration purposes
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cmdkey_adding_generic_creds/info.yml
simulation:
    - type: atomic-red-team
      name: RDP to DomainController
      technique: T1021.001
      atomic_guid: 355d4632-8cb9-449d-91ce-b566d0253d3e

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Legitimate usage for administration purposes

Source references

• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1021.001/T1021.001.md#t1021001---remote-desktop-protocol