Sigma rule: Execution via MSSQL Xp_cmdshell Stored Procedure

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-d0e3db1ebb16, updated 2023-03-06T00:00:00.000Z.

SigmaHQ marks this rule as deprecated.

Rule

Title
Execution via MSSQL Xp_cmdshell Stored Procedure
Status
deprecated
Level
high
Author
Tim Rauch
Date
2022/09/28
Modified
2023/03/06
File
deprecated/windows/proc_creation_win_execution_mssql_xp_cmdshell_stored_procedure.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects execution via MSSQL xp_cmdshell stored procedure. Malicious users may attempt to elevate their privileges by using xp_cmdshell, which is disabled by default.

Log source

product
windows
category
process_creation

Detection

selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'Cmd.Exe'
selection_parent:
    ParentImage|endswith: '\sqlservr.exe'
condition: all of selection_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Unknown

Tags

  • attack.execution
  • attack.t1059

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

Related rules

References

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/deprecated/windows/proc_creation_win_execution_mssql_xp_cmdshell_stored_procedure.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Execution via MSSQL Xp_cmdshell Stored Procedure" by Tim Rauch (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/deprecated/windows/proc_creation_win_execution_mssql_xp_cmdshell_stored_procedure.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: Execution via MSSQL Xp_cmdshell Stored Procedure",
entity page, dataset version ref-d0e3db1ebb16, updated 2023-03-06T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/344482e4-a477-436c-aa70-7536d18a48c7 (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 344482e4-a477-436c-aa70-7536d18a48c7, 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.