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Suspicious Windows Command Shell Execution

Identifies the execution of the Windows Command Shell process (cmd.exe) with suspicious argument values. This behavior is often observed during malware installation.

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Detection Logic

process where event.action == "start" and
 (process.name : "cmd.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name ==  "Cmd.Exe") and not user.id : "S-1-5-18" and
 process.parent.executable != null and
 (

  process.command_line : ("*).Run(*", "*GetObject*", "* curl*regsvr32*", "*echo*wscript*", "*echo*ZONE.identifier*",
  "*ActiveXObject*", "*dir /s /b *echo*", "*unescape(*",  "*findstr*TVNDRgAAAA*", "*findstr*passw*", "*start*\\\\*\\DavWWWRoot\\*",
  "* explorer*%CD%*", "*%cd%\\*.js*", "*attrib*%CD%*", "*/?cMD<*", "*/AutoIt3ExecuteScript*..*", "*&cls&cls&cls&cls&cls&*",
  "*&#*;&#*;&#*;&#*;*", "* &&s^eT*", "*& ChrW(*", "*&explorer /root*", "*start __ & __\\*", "*findstr /V /L *forfiles*",
  "*=wscri& set *", "*http*!COmpUternaME!*", "*start *.pdf * start /min cmd.exe /c *\\\\*", "*pip install*System.Net.WebClient*",
  "*Invoke-WebRequest*Start-Process*", "*iwr *saps *", "*-command (Invoke-webrequest*", "*copy /b *\\\\* ping *-n*", "*echo*.ToCharArray*",
  "*curl --ntlm -u*", "*bat'; iwr $*", "*http*.Content;*", "*&(gcm i?x)*", "*!*!*!*!*!*!*", "*&& !*!!*", "*for %? in (?) do @set*",
  "*QUIT>>?&FTP/s:*", "*iwr *Start-Process*", "*irm https*
| iex*", "*^S^T^a*",  "*javascript:alert*",
  "* /v /c *&&set *&&set *&&set *&&set *&&set*", "*net use *@ssl*rundll32*", "*echo F
| xcopy*/h /y &&*",
  "* if /i \"%cd%\"==\"C:\\Windows\\System32\" ( echo *", "* if /i \"%cd%\"==\"C:\\Windows\\System32\" ( msg*",
  "* if /i \"%cd%\"==\"C:\\Windows\\System32\" (mshta *", "*/c*start*.doc&exit*", "*/k*start msedge*http*&*", "*))
| Invoke-Expression\"", 
  "*/c *.bat&*.pdf*", "*/c *.bat&*.mp4*", "*set \"*& set \"*& set \"* call %*") or

  (process.args_count == 3 and process.args : "%*%" and process.args:"/c") or

  process.args : ("1>?:\\*.vbs", "1>?:\\*.js") or 
  
  (process.args : "explorer.exe" and process.args : "type" and process.args  :  ">" and process.args : "start") or

  (process.parent.name : ("explorer.exe", "python.exe") and
   process.command_line :
           ("*&&S^eT *",
            "*&& set *&& set *&& set *&& set *&& set *&& call*",
            "**\\u00??\\u00??\\u00??\\u00??\\u00??\\u00??\\u00??\\u00??*",
            "*sTArT /MiN *POWeRsheLl -WiNdowStYlE hIddeN*",
            "*cURL -O *HtTP*.bat*")) or

   (process.parent.name : ("explorer.exe", "python.exe") and process.args : "copy" and
    process.args : "&&" and process.args : "\\\\*@*\\*")
  ) and

  /* false positives */
  not (process.args : "%TEMP%\\Spiceworks\\*" and process.parent.name : "wmiprvse.exe") and
  not (process.parent.name : "cmd.exe" and process.command_line : "*!iodp.wapps!PitaLogger*") and
  not process.working_directory like "C:\\Jenkins\\_Workspace\\*" and
  not process.parent.executable :
                ("?:\\Perl64\\bin\\perl.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe",
                 "E:\\eGov\\eGovXtract.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\HP\\RS\\pgsql\\bin\\pg_dumpall.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\PRTG Network Monitor\\64 bit\\PRTG Server.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Spiceworks\\bin\\spiceworks-finder.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Zuercher Suite\\production\\leds\\leds.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\Tripwire\\Agent\\Plugins\\twexec\\twexec.exe",
                 "D:\\Agents\\?\\_work\\_tasks\\*\\SonarScanner.MSBuild.exe",
                 "?:\\reps\\inventory\\.nodejs\\node\\node.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\Microsoft VS Code\\Code.exe",
                 "?:\\Users\\*\\node.exe",
                 "?:\\nodejs\\node.exe",
                 "?:\\*\\.nodejs\\node\\node.exe",
                 "C:\\xampp\\php\\php.exe",
                 "C:\\officelauncher\\OfficeInstaller.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\mRemoteNG\\mRemoteNG.exe",
                 "D:\\PROGRAMS\\Siebel\\siebsrvr\\BIN\\siebmtshmw.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\NetDocuments\\ndOffice\\ndOffice.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files\\Waves Central\\Waves Central.exe",
                 "C:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\MyASUS Update Messenger\\UpdateMessenger.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\MSSQL??.MSSQLSERVER\\MSSQL\\Binn\\sqlservr.exe",
                 "?:\\programmiweb\\NetBeans-*\\netbeans\\bin\\netbeans64.exe",
                 "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Zuercher Suite\\production\\leds\\leds.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Public Safety Suite Professional\\production\\leds\\leds.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Tier2Tickets\\button_gui.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\NetBeans-*\\netbeans\\bin\\netbeans*.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\20??\\Enterprise\\Common?\\IDE\\devenv.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Helpdesk Button\\button_gui.exe",
                 "?:\\VTSPortable\\VTS\\jre\\bin\\javaw.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\Bot Framework Composer\\Bot Framework Composer.exe",
                 "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\*electron\\AXIS Device Manager Extend.exe",
                 "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Arduino IDE\\Arduino IDE.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\KMSYS Worldwide\\eQuate\\*\\SessionMgr.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Craneware\\Pricing Analyzer\\Craneware.Pricing.Shell.exe",
                 "?:\\sonarqube\\MSBuild\\SonarScanner.MSBuild.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\jumpcloud-agent-app\\jumpcloud-agent-app.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\PostgreSQL\\*\\bin\\pg_dumpall.exe",
                 "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\Code.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\*\\DTS\\Binn\\ISServerExec.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\MSSQL*\\MSSQL\\Binn\\sqlservr.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\*\\IDE\\devenv.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\*\\Common?\\IDE\\devenv.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Vim\\vim*\\vimrun.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files\\NetBeans-28\\bin\\netbeans64.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\*\\DtsDebugHost.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\*\\DtsDebugHost.exe",
                 "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Quest Software\\*\\Toad.exe",
                 "?:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server\\*\\DTS\\Binn\\ISServerExec.exe") and
  not (process.args : "console
| findstr" and process.parent.name : "cmd.exe") and
  not process.working_directory : "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Spiceworks\\" and
  not (process.parent.name : "wscript.exe" and
       process.parent.args : ("D:\\intersystems\\hsfoundation\\databases\\data\\ELSAInfoServer.vbs", "\\\\*")) and
  not (process.parent.name : ("pwsh.exe", "powershell.exe") and process.args : "start" and
       process.args : "https://login.microsoftonline.com/*") and 
  not (process.args :  "?:\\Program Files\\Citrix\\Secure Access Client\\nsauto.exe" and process.parent.name : "userinit.exe") and
  not process.args :
            ("?:\\Program Files (x86)\\PCMatic\\PCPitstopScheduleService.exe",
             "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\AllesTechnologyAgent\\*",
             "https://auth.axis.com/oauth2/oauth-authorize*",
             "D:\\GitHub\\lilitech-cloud-app\\node_modules\\.bin\\*",
             "C:\\ProgramData\\santesocial\\commun\\adm\\produits",
             "*--flat-playlist^*--no-cache-dir^*",
             "/DIR=C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Zeiss\\Zeiss PDF Printer",
             "*plugins\\org.eclipse.birt.doc_*",
             "database.*password", 
             "usebackq delims=: tokens=2") and
  not process.command_line :
               ("\"cmd\" /c %NETBEANS_MAVEN_COMMAND_LINE%",
                "cmd /c %NETBEANS_MAVEN_COMMAND_LINE%",
                "/c echo %TERM%",
                "*RunAsync.vbs*",
                "?:\\Windows\\system32\\cmd.exe /q /d /s /c \"npm.cmd ^\"install^\" ^\"--no-bin-links^\" ^\"--production^\"\"") and
  not (process.name : "cmd.exe" and process.args : "%TEMP%\\Spiceworks\\*" and process.args : "http*/dataloader/persist_netstat_data") and
  not process.parent.command_line : "cmd  /q /k  prompt MAM:Remote$G" and
  not process.parent.args like  "C:\\WINDOWS\\Runtime\\utility\\wrapper.vbs" and
  not (process.args : "C:\\Windows\\TEMP\\nessus_*.TMP" and process.parent.name : "WmiPrvSE.exe") and
  not (process.parent.name : "WmiPrvSe.exe" and 
       process.args : "& {$j = sajb {$ErrorActionPreference = 'SilentlyContinue';$ErrorActionPreference = 'SilentlyContinue';$jars = $(Get-ChildItem -Path 'C:\\*' -Recurse -Include '*.jar','*.war','*.ear'*") and 
  not (process.parent.name : "wscript.exe" and
       process.parent.args : ("C:\\IBM\\ITM\\TMAITM6_x64\\K06_uninstall.vbs",
                              "C:\\Windows\\System32\\gatherNetworkInfo.vbs",
                              "C:\\Program Files\\Arcserve\\Unified Data Protection\\Engine\\BIN\\AStartupRun.vbs")) and
  not (process.args == "echo" and process.args == "GEQ" and process.args == "1073741824") and
  not (process.parent.name : "wscript.exe" and process.parent.args : "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\CaseWare\\Template\\FinancialsIFRS\\Packager\\After\\0\\FinancialsIFRSCreateShortcuts.js") and
  not (process.name : "cmd.exe" and process.parent.name : ("javaw.exe", "udt.exe") and
       process.command_line : ("cmd /C %JENV_0%", "/c echo %MENU_SYSTEM%", "/c echo %NJSEXIT7%", "%OPENER% %f%")) and
  not (process.parent.executable : "C:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\is-*.tmp\\RublonForWindows-?.?.?.tmp" and
       process.command_line : "*https://core.rublon.net/api/app/init*") and
  not process.command_line : ("cmd /c echo AMD64", "cmd /c echo x86", "C:\\Windows\\system32\\cmd.exe /c mshta \"javascript:code(close(new ActiveXObject('Scripting.FileSystemObject').GetStandardStream(1).Write*")

Field Validations

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