Sigma rule: Winnti Malware HK University Campaign

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-8067f935d6e5, updated 2021-11-27T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Winnti Malware HK University Campaign
Status
test
Level
critical
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Markus Neis
Date
2020-02-01
Modified
2021-11-27
File
rules-emerging-threats/2020/TA/Winnti/proc_creation_win_apt_winnti_mal_hk_jan20.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects specific process characteristics of Winnti malware noticed in Dec/Jan 2020 in a campaign against Honk Kong universities

Log source

product
windows
category
process_creation

Detection

selection1:
    ParentImage|contains:
        - 'C:\Windows\Temp'
        - '\hpqhvind.exe'
    Image|startswith: 'C:\ProgramData\DRM'
selection2:
    ParentImage|startswith: 'C:\ProgramData\DRM'
    Image|endswith: '\wmplayer.exe'
selection3:
    ParentImage|endswith: '\Test.exe'
    Image|endswith: '\wmplayer.exe'
selection4:
    Image: 'C:\ProgramData\DRM\CLR\CLR.exe'
selection5:
    ParentImage|startswith: 'C:\ProgramData\DRM\Windows'
    Image|endswith: '\SearchFilterHost.exe'
condition: 1 of selection*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Unlikely

Tags

  • attack.privilege-escalation
  • attack.persistence
  • attack.execution
  • attack.stealth
  • attack.t1574.001
  • attack.g0044
  • detection.emerging-threats

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-emerging-threats/2020/TA/Winnti/proc_creation_win_apt_winnti_mal_hk_jan20.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Winnti Malware HK University Campaign" by Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Markus Neis (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules-emerging-threats/2020/TA/Winnti/proc_creation_win_apt_winnti_mal_hk_jan20.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: Winnti Malware HK University Campaign",
entity page, dataset version ref-8067f935d6e5, updated 2021-11-27T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/3121461b-5aa0-4a41-b910-66d25524edbb (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 3121461b-5aa0-4a41-b910-66d25524edbb, 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.