Sigma rule: Xwizard.EXE Execution From Non-Default Location

Rule

Title

Xwizard.EXE Execution From Non-Default Location

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems)

Date

2021-09-20

Modified

2024-08-15

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_xwizard_execution_non_default_location.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the execution of Xwizard tool from a non-default directory.
When executed from a non-default directory, this utility can be abused in order to side load a custom version of "xwizards.dll".

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection:
    - Image|endswith: '\xwizard.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'xwizard.exe'
filter_main_legit_location:
    Image|startswith:
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\'
        - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
        - 'C:\Windows\WinSxS\'
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Windows installed on non-C drive

Tags

• attack.privilege-escalation
• attack.persistence
• attack.execution
• attack.stealth
• attack.t1574.001

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1574.001

References

• https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Xwizard/
• http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2017/07/31/the-wizard-of-x-oppa-plugx-style/

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_xwizard_execution_non_default_location.yml