Sigma rule: MSDT Execution Via Answer File

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-62a922241224, updated 2025-10-29T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
MSDT Execution Via Answer File
Status
test
Level
high
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Date
2022-06-13
Modified
2025-10-29
File
rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_msdt_answer_file_exec.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects execution of "msdt.exe" using an answer file which is simulating the legitimate way of calling msdt via "pcwrun.exe" (For example from the compatibility tab).

Log source

product
windows
category
process_creation

Detection

selection:
    Image|endswith: '\msdt.exe'
    CommandLine|contains: '\WINDOWS\diagnostics\index\PCWDiagnostic.xml'
    CommandLine|contains|windash: ' -af '
filter_main_pcwrun:
    ParentImage|endswith: '\pcwrun.exe'
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Possible undocumented parents of "msdt" other than "pcwrun".

Tags

  • attack.stealth
  • attack.t1218
  • attack.execution

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/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_msdt_answer_file_exec.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "MSDT Execution Via Answer File" by Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_msdt_answer_file_exec.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: MSDT Execution Via Answer File",
entity page, dataset version ref-62a922241224, updated 2025-10-29T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/9c8c7000-3065-44a8-a555-79bcba5d9955 (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule 9c8c7000-3065-44a8-a555-79bcba5d9955, 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.