Sigma rule: HackTool - CrackMapExec Execution

Rule

Title

HackTool - CrackMapExec Execution

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)

Date

2022-02-25

Modified

2023-03-08

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_hktl_crackmapexec_execution.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

This rule detect common flag combinations used by CrackMapExec in order to detect its use even if the binary has been replaced.

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_binary:
    Image|endswith: '\crackmapexec.exe'
selection_special:
    CommandLine|contains: ' -M pe_inject '
selection_execute:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - ' --local-auth'
        - ' -u '
        - ' -x '
selection_hash:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - ' --local-auth'
        - ' -u '
        - ' -p '
        - " -H 'NTHASH'"
selection_module_mssql:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - ' mssql '
        - ' -u '
        - ' -p '
        - ' -M '
        - ' -d '
selection_module_smb1:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - ' smb '
        - ' -u '
        - ' -H '
        - ' -M '
        - ' -o '
selection_module_smb2:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - ' smb '
        - ' -u '
        - ' -p '
        - ' --local-auth'
part_localauth_1:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - ' --local-auth'
        - ' -u '
        - ' -p '
part_localauth_2:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - ' 10.'
        - ' 192.168.'
        - '/24 '
condition: 1 of selection_* or all of part_localauth*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unknown

Tags

• attack.execution
• attack.persistence
• attack.privilege-escalation
• attack.credential-access
• attack.discovery
• attack.t1047
• attack.t1053
• attack.t1059.003
• attack.t1059.001
• attack.t1110
• attack.t1201

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1047
• T1053
• T1059.001
• T1059.003
• T1110
• T1201

References

• https://mpgn.gitbook.io/crackmapexec/smb-protocol/authentication/checking-credentials-local
• https://www.mandiant.com/resources/telegram-malware-iranian-espionage
• https://www.infosecmatter.com/crackmapexec-module-library/?cmem=mssql-mimikatz
• https://www.infosecmatter.com/crackmapexec-module-library/?cmem=smb-pe_inject

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_hktl_crackmapexec_execution.yml