Sigma rule: Potentially Suspicious Cabinet File Expansion

Rule

Title

Potentially Suspicious Cabinet File Expansion

Status

test

Level

medium

Author

Bhabesh Raj, X__Junior (Nextron Systems)

Date

2021-07-30

Modified

2024-11-13

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_expand_cabinet_files.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the expansion or decompression of cabinet files from potentially suspicious or uncommon locations, e.g. seen in Iranian MeteorExpress related attacks

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_cmd:
    Image|endswith: '\expand.exe'
    CommandLine|contains|windash: '-F:'
selection_folders_1:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - ':\Perflogs\'
        - ':\ProgramData'
        - ':\Users\Public\'
        - ':\Windows\Temp\'
        - '\Admin$\'
        - '\AppData\Local\Temp\'
        - '\AppData\Roaming\'
        - '\C$\'
        - '\Temporary Internet'
selection_folders_2:
    - CommandLine|contains|all:
          - ':\Users\'
          - '\Favorites\'
    - CommandLine|contains|all:
          - ':\Users\'
          - '\Favourites\'
    - CommandLine|contains|all:
          - ':\Users\'
          - '\Contacts\'
filter_optional_dell:
    # Launched by Dell ServiceShell.exe
    ParentImage: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\UpdateService\ServiceShell.exe'
    CommandLine|contains: 'C:\ProgramData\Dell\UpdateService\Temp\'
condition: selection_cmd and 1 of selection_folders_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• System administrator Usage

Tags

• attack.stealth
• attack.t1218

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1218

References

• https://labs.sentinelone.com/meteorexpress-mysterious-wiper-paralyzes-iranian-trains-with-epic-troll
• https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-intelligence/2021/08/new-variant-of-konni-malware-used-in-campaign-targetting-russia/

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_expand_cabinet_files.yml