Sigma rule: Potential Proxy Execution Via Explorer.EXE From Shell Process

Rule

Title

Potential Proxy Execution Via Explorer.EXE From Shell Process

Status

test

Level

low

Author

Furkan CALISKAN, @caliskanfurkan_, @oscd_initiative

Date

2020-10-05

Modified

2024-06-21

File

rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_explorer_child_of_shell_process.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the creation of a child "explorer.exe" process from a shell like process such as "cmd.exe" or "powershell.exe".
Attackers can use "explorer.exe" for evading defense mechanisms by proxying the execution through the latter.
While this is often a legitimate action, this rule can be use to hunt for anomalies.
Muddy Waters threat actor was seeing using this technique.

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection:
    ParentImage|endswith:
        - '\cmd.exe'
        - '\powershell.exe'
        - '\pwsh.exe'
    Image|endswith: '\explorer.exe'
    CommandLine|contains: 'explorer.exe'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Legitimate explorer.exe run from a shell host like "cmd.exe" or "powershell.exe"

Tags

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

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1218

References

• https://twitter.com/CyberRaiju/status/1273597319322058752
• https://app.any.run/tasks/9a8fd563-4c54-4d0a-9ad8-1fe08339cbc3/

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_explorer_child_of_shell_process.yml