Elastic high stable eql

Proxy Execution via Console Window Host

Identifies abuse of the Console Window Host (conhost.exe) to execute commands via proxy. This behavior is used as a defense evasion technique to blend-in malicious activity with legitimate Windows software.

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Detection Logic

process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
 process.name : "conhost.exe" and process.args : "--headless" and
  process.command_line : (
    "*powershell*", "*cmd *", "*cmd.exe *", "*script*", "*mshta*", "*curl *", "*curl.exe *", "*^*^*^*",
    "*.bat*", "*.cmd*", "*schtasks*", "*@SSL*", "*http*", "* \\\\*", "*.vbs*", "*.js*", "*mhsta*"
  ) and
  not (
    /* Winget-AutoUpdate via ServiceUI */
    process.parent.executable : "?:\\Program Files\\winget-autoupdate*\\serviceui.exe" or
    /* Winget-AutoUpdate notification via Task Scheduler */
    (
      process.parent.executable : "?:\\Windows\\System32\\svchost.exe" and process.parent.args : "-s" and
      process.parent.args : "Schedule" and process.command_line : "*WAU-Notify.ps1*"
    ) or
    /* Windows OpenSSH console host — SSH-specific detection handled by 8cd49fbc-a35a-4418-8688-133cc3a1e548 */
    process.parent.executable : (
      "?:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\sshd.exe",
      "?:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\sshd-session.exe",
      "?:\\Program Files\\OpenSSH*\\sshd.exe",
      "?:\\Program Files\\OpenSSH*\\sshd-session.exe"
    )
  )

Field Validations

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