Sigma rule: Prefetch File Deleted

Rule

Title

Prefetch File Deleted

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Cedric MAURUGEON

Date

2021-09-29

Modified

2024-01-25

File

rules/windows/file/file_delete/file_delete_win_delete_prefetch.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the deletion of a prefetch file which may indicate an attempt to destroy forensic evidence

Log source

product

windows

category

file_delete

Detection

selection:
    TargetFilename|contains: ':\Windows\Prefetch\'
    TargetFilename|endswith: '.pf'
filter_main_svchost:
    Image|endswith: ':\windows\system32\svchost.exe'
    User|contains: # covers many language settings
        - 'AUTHORI'
        - 'AUTORI'
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unknown

Tags

• attack.stealth
• attack.t1070.004

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1070.004

References

• Internal Research
• https://www.group-ib.com/blog/hunting-for-ttps-with-prefetch-files/

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/file/file_delete/file_delete_win_delete_prefetch.yml