Sigma rule: Rundll32 Execution Without CommandLine Parameters

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-7a6df4657028, updated 2023-08-31T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Rundll32 Execution Without CommandLine Parameters
Status
test
Level
high
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
Date
2021-05-27
Modified
2023-08-31
File
rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_rundll32_no_params.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects suspicious start of rundll32.exe without any parameters as found in CobaltStrike beacon activity

Log source

product
windows
category
process_creation

Detection

selection:
    CommandLine|endswith:
        - '\rundll32.exe'
        - '\rundll32.exe"'
        - '\rundll32'
filter:
    ParentImage|contains:
        - '\AppData\Local\'
        - '\Microsoft\Edge\'
condition: selection and not filter

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Possible but rare

Tags

  • attack.stealth
  • attack.t1202

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

References

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_rundll32_no_params.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Rundll32 Execution Without CommandLine Parameters" by Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_rundll32_no_params.yml.
    Licensed under the Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License

    Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1

Cite this page

Dragons Eye Ransomware Tracker, "Sigma rule: Rundll32 Execution Without CommandLine Parameters",
entity page, dataset version ref-7a6df4657028, updated 2023-08-31T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/1775e15e-b61b-4d14-a1a3-80981298085a (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 1775e15e-b61b-4d14-a1a3-80981298085a, commit ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84.

Pages change. The dataset version identifies the data, but no archive of old versions is kept, so this citation cannot be replayed later.