Sigma rule: Sticky Key Like Backdoor Execution

Rule

Title

Sticky Key Like Backdoor Execution

Status

test

Level

critical

Author

Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), @twjackomo, Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community

Date

2018-03-15

Modified

2023-03-07

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cmd_sticky_key_like_backdoor_execution.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the usage and installation of a backdoor that uses an option to register a malicious debugger for built-in tools that are accessible in the login screen

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection:
    ParentImage|endswith: '\winlogon.exe'
    Image|endswith:
        - '\cmd.exe'
        - '\cscript.exe'
        - '\mshta.exe'
        - '\powershell.exe'
        - '\pwsh.exe'
        - '\regsvr32.exe'
        - '\rundll32.exe'
        - '\wscript.exe'
        - '\wt.exe'
    CommandLine|contains:
        - 'sethc.exe'
        - 'utilman.exe'
        - 'osk.exe'
        - 'Magnify.exe'
        - 'Narrator.exe'
        - 'DisplaySwitch.exe'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unlikely

Tags

• attack.privilege-escalation
• attack.persistence
• attack.t1546.008
• car.2014-11-003
• car.2014-11-008

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1546.008

Related rules

• baca5663-583c-45f9-b5dc-ea96a22ce542 (derived)

References

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/jonathantrull/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors

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_sticky_key_like_backdoor_execution.yml