Sigma rule: Msiexec.EXE Initiated Network Connection Over HTTP

Rule

Title

Msiexec.EXE Initiated Network Connection Over HTTP

Status

test

Level

low

Author

frack113

Date

2022-01-16

Modified

2024-07-16

File

rules-threat-hunting/windows/network_connection/net_connection_win_msiexec_http.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects a network connection initiated by an "Msiexec.exe" process over port 80 or 443.
Adversaries might abuse "msiexec.exe" to install and execute remotely hosted packages.
Use this rule to hunt for potentially anomalous or suspicious communications.

Log source

product

windows

category

network_connection

Detection

selection:
    Initiated: 'true'
    Image|endswith: '\msiexec.exe'
    DestinationPort:
        - 80
        - 443
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Likely

Tags

• attack.stealth
• attack.t1218.007
• detection.threat-hunting

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1218.007

References

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/msiexec
• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1218.007/T1218.007.md

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/network_connection/net_connection_win_msiexec_http.yml