Sigma rule: Renamed PsExec Service Execution

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-3ed430532c33, updated 2022-07-21T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Renamed PsExec Service Execution
Status
test
Level
high
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
Date
2022-07-21
File
rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_renamed_sysinternals_psexec_service.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects suspicious launch of a renamed version of the PSEXESVC service with, which is not often used by legitimate administrators

Log source

product
windows
category
process_creation

Detection

selection:
    OriginalFileName: 'psexesvc.exe'
filter:
    Image: 'C:\Windows\PSEXESVC.exe'
condition: selection and not filter

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Legitimate administrative tasks

Tags

  • attack.execution

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/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_renamed_sysinternals_psexec_service.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Renamed PsExec Service Execution" by Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_renamed_sysinternals_psexec_service.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: Renamed PsExec Service Execution",
entity page, dataset version ref-3ed430532c33, updated 2022-07-21T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/51ae86a2-e2e1-4097-ad85-c46cb6851de4 (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 51ae86a2-e2e1-4097-ad85-c46cb6851de4, 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.