Sigma rule: Winrs Local Command Execution

Rule

Title

Winrs Local Command Execution

Status

experimental

Level

high

Author

Liran Ravich, Nasreddine Bencherchali

Date

2025-10-22

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_winrs_local_command_execution.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the execution of Winrs.exe where it is used to execute commands locally.
Commands executed this way are launched under Winrshost.exe and can represent proxy execution used for defense evasion or lateral movement.

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_img:
    # Note: Example of command to simulate (winrm needs to be enabled): "c:\Windows\System32\winrs.exe" calc.exe
    - Image|endswith: '\winrs.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'winrs.exe'
selection_local_ip:
    CommandLine|contains|windash:
        - '/r:localhost'
        - '/r:127.0.0.1'
        - '/r:[::1]'
        - '/remote:localhost'
        - '/remote:127.0.0.1'
        - '/remote:[::1]'
filter_main_remote:
    CommandLine|contains|windash:
        - "/r:"
        - "/remote:"
condition: all of selection_* or (selection_img and not 1 of filter_main_*)

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unlikely

Tags

• attack.lateral-movement
• attack.stealth
• attack.t1021.006
• attack.t1218

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1021.006
• T1218

References

• https://cardinalops.com/blog/living-off-winrm-abusing-complexity-in-remote-management/
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/winrs

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_winrs_local_command_execution.yml