PUA - Kernel Driver Utility (KDU) Execution — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Matt Anderson, Dray Agha, Anna Pham (Huntress). Source status: experimental; severity: high. Source dates: 2026-01-02 / not supplied.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 59ad77dbdc1dee031bcf4d2f8d02dca479d3def2f08f4e75309efd57e71e113a

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: PUA - Kernel Driver Utility (KDU) Execution
id: e76ca062-4de0-4d79-8d90-160a0d335eca
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects execution of the Kernel Driver Utility (KDU) tool.
    KDU can be used to bypass driver signature enforcement and load unsigned or malicious drivers into the Windows kernel.
    Potentially allowing for privilege escalation, persistence, or evasion of security controls.
references:
    - https://github.com/h4rmy/KDU
    - https://huntress.com/blog/esxi-vm-escape-exploit
author: Matt Anderson, Dray Agha, Anna Pham (Huntress)
date: 2026-01-02
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1543.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\kdu.exe'
              - '\hamakaze.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'hamakaze.exe'
    selection_cli_suspicious:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '-map ' # map driver to the kernel and execute it entry point
            - '-prv ' # optional, select vulnerability driver provider
            - '-dse ' # write user defined value to the system DSE state flags; dse=0(disable),dse=1(enable)
            - '-ps ' #  modify process object of given ProcessID;
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate driver development, testing, or administrative troubleshooting (e.g., enabling/disabling hardware)
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_pua_kdu_driver_tool/info.yml

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Legitimate driver development, testing, or administrative troubleshooting (e.g., enabling/disabling hardware)

Source references

• https://github.com/h4rmy/KDU
• https://huntress.com/blog/esxi-vm-escape-exploit