Sigma rule: PsExec Tool Execution From Suspicious Locations - PipeName

Rule

Title

PsExec Tool Execution From Suspicious Locations - PipeName

Status

test

Level

medium

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Date

2022-08-04

Modified

2023-09-20

File

rules/windows/pipe_created/pipe_created_sysinternals_psexec_default_pipe_susp_location.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects PsExec default pipe creation where the image executed is located in a suspicious location. Which could indicate that the tool is being used in an attack

Log source

product

windows

category

pipe_created

definition

Note that you have to configure logging for Named Pipe Events in Sysmon config (Event ID 17 and Event ID 18). The basic configuration is in popular sysmon configuration (https://github.com/SwiftOnSecurity/sysmon-config), but it is worth verifying. You can also use other repo, e.g. https://github.com/Neo23x0/sysmon-config, https://github.com/olafhartong/sysmon-modular. How to test detection? You can check powershell script from this site https://svch0st.medium.com/guide-to-named-pipes-and-hunting-for-cobalt-strike-pipes-dc46b2c5f575

Detection

selection:
    PipeName: '\PSEXESVC'
    Image|contains: # Add or remove locations depending on how and if you execute Psexec in your env
        - ':\Users\Public\'
        - ':\Windows\Temp\'
        - '\AppData\Local\Temp\'
        - '\Desktop\'
        - '\Downloads\'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Rare legitimate use of psexec from the locations mentioned above. This will require initial tuning based on your environment.

Tags

• attack.execution
• attack.t1569.002
• attack.s0029

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• S0029
• T1569.002

Related rules

• f3f3a972-f982-40ad-b63c-bca6afdfad7c (derived)

References

• https://www.jpcert.or.jp/english/pub/sr/ir_research.html
• https://jpcertcc.github.io/ToolAnalysisResultSheet

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/pipe_created/pipe_created_sysinternals_psexec_default_pipe_susp_location.yml