Sigma rule: RDP Connection Allowed Via Netsh.EXE

Rule

Title

RDP Connection Allowed Via Netsh.EXE

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Sander Wiebing

Date

2020-05-23

Modified

2023-12-11

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_netsh_fw_allow_rdp.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects usage of the netsh command to open and allow connections to port 3389 (RDP). As seen used by Sarwent Malware

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\netsh.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'netsh.exe'
selection_cli:
    # Example:
    #   Old: netsh firewall add portopening TCP 3389 "Open Port 3389"
    #   New: netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name= "Open Port 3389" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=3389
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'firewall '
        - 'add '
        - 'tcp '
        - '3389'
    CommandLine|contains:
        - 'portopening'
        - 'allow'
condition: all of selection_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Legitimate administration activity

Tags

• attack.defense-impairment
• attack.t1686.003

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1686.003

References

• https://labs.sentinelone.com/sarwent-malware-updates-command-detonation/

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_netsh_fw_allow_rdp.yml