Sigma rule: Potentially Suspicious DMP/HDMP File Creation

Rule

Title

Potentially Suspicious DMP/HDMP File Creation

Status

test

Level

medium

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Date

2023-09-07

File

rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_dump_file_susp_creation.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the creation of a file with the ".dmp"/".hdmp" extension by a shell or scripting application such as "cmd", "powershell", etc. Often created by software during a crash. Memory dumps can sometimes contain sensitive information such as credentials. It's best to determine the source of the crash.

Log source

product

windows

category

file_event

Detection

selection:
    Image|endswith:
        - '\cmd.exe'
        - '\cscript.exe'
        - '\mshta.exe'
        - '\powershell.exe'
        - '\pwsh.exe'
        - '\wscript.exe'
    TargetFilename|endswith:
        - '.dmp'
        - '.dump'
        - '.hdmp'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Some administrative PowerShell or VB scripts might have the ability to collect dumps and move them to other folders which might trigger a false positive.

Tags

• attack.stealth

Related rules

• 3a525307-d100-48ae-b3b9-0964699d7f97 (similar)

References

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/wer/collecting-user-mode-dumps

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/file/file_event/file_event_win_dump_file_susp_creation.yml