Sigma rule: Microsoft Workflow Compiler Execution

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-7b37457bd262, updated 2023-02-03T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Microsoft Workflow Compiler Execution
Status
test
Level
medium
Author
Nik Seetharaman, frack113
Date
2019-01-16
Modified
2023-02-03
File
rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_microsoft_workflow_compiler_execution.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the execution of Microsoft Workflow Compiler, which may permit the execution of arbitrary unsigned code.

Log source

product
windows
category
process_creation

Detection

selection:
    - Image|endswith: '\Microsoft.Workflow.Compiler.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'Microsoft.Workflow.Compiler.exe'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Legitimate MWC use (unlikely in modern enterprise environments)

Tags

  • attack.execution
  • attack.stealth
  • attack.t1127
  • attack.t1218
  • detection.threat-hunting

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-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_microsoft_workflow_compiler_execution.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Microsoft Workflow Compiler Execution" by Nik Seetharaman, frack113 (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_microsoft_workflow_compiler_execution.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: Microsoft Workflow Compiler Execution",
entity page, dataset version ref-7b37457bd262, updated 2023-02-03T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/419dbf2b-8a9b-4bea-bf99-7544b050ec8d (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 419dbf2b-8a9b-4bea-bf99-7544b050ec8d, 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.