Sigma rule: Remote Thread Created In Shell Application

Rule

Title

Remote Thread Created In Shell Application

Status

test

Level

medium

Author

Splunk Research Team

Date

2024-07-29

Modified

2025-07-04

File

rules-threat-hunting/windows/create_remote_thread/create_remote_thread_win_susp_target_shell_application.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects remote thread creation in command shell applications, such as "Cmd.EXE" and "PowerShell.EXE".
It is a common technique used by malware, such as IcedID, to inject malicious code and execute it within legitimate processes.

Log source

product

windows

category

create_remote_thread

Detection

selection:
    TargetImage|endswith:
        - '\cmd.exe'
        - '\powershell.exe'
        - '\pwsh.exe'
filter_main_system:
    SourceImage|startswith:
        - 'C:\Windows\System32\'
        - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
        - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
        - 'C:\Program Files\'
filter_optional_defender:
    SourceImage|endswith: '\MsMpEng.exe'
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unknown

Tags

• attack.privilege-escalation
• attack.stealth
• attack.t1055
• detection.threat-hunting

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1055

References

• https://research.splunk.com/endpoint/10399c1e-f51e-11eb-b920-acde48001122/
• https://www.binarydefense.com/resources/blog/icedid-gziploader-analysis/

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/create_remote_thread/create_remote_thread_win_susp_target_shell_application.yml