Sigma rule: Potential CommandLine Path Traversal Via Cmd.EXE

Rule

Title

Potential CommandLine Path Traversal Via Cmd.EXE

Status

test

Level

high

Author

xknow @xknow_infosec, Tim Shelton

Date

2020-06-11

Modified

2023-03-06

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cmd_path_traversal.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects potential path traversal attempt via cmd.exe. Could indicate possible command/argument confusion/hijacking

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_img:
    - ParentImage|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
    - Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'cmd.exe'
selection_flags:
    - ParentCommandLine|contains:
          - '/c'
          - '/k'
          - '/r'
    - CommandLine|contains:
          - '/c'
          - '/k'
          - '/r'
selection_path_traversal:
    - ParentCommandLine: '/../../'
    - CommandLine|contains: '/../../'
filter_java:
    CommandLine|contains: '\Tasktop\keycloak\bin\/../../jre\bin\java'
condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Java tools are known to produce false-positive when loading libraries

Tags

• attack.execution
• attack.t1059.003

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1059.003

References

• https://hackingiscool.pl/cmdhijack-command-argument-confusion-with-path-traversal-in-cmd-exe/
• https://twitter.com/Oddvarmoe/status/1270633613449723905

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_cmd_path_traversal.yml