Sigma rule: Renamed VsCode Code Tunnel Execution - File Indicator

A detection rule from the SigmaHQ repository, shown as its author published it. Dataset version ref-62bc4e1282b8, updated 2023-10-25T00:00:00.000Z.

Rule

Title
Renamed VsCode Code Tunnel Execution - File Indicator
Status
test
Level
high
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Date
2023-10-25
File
rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_vscode_tunnel_renamed_execution.yml
Commit
ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the creation of a file with the name "code_tunnel.json" which indicate execution and usage of VsCode tunneling utility by an "Image" or "Process" other than VsCode.

Log source

product
windows
category
file_event

Detection

selection:
    TargetFilename|endswith: '\code_tunnel.json'
filter_main_legit_name:
    # Note: There might be other legitimate names for VsCode. Please add them if found
    Image|endswith:
        - '\code-tunnel.exe'
        - '\code.exe'
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

  • Unknown

Tags

  • attack.command-and-control

References

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_vscode_tunnel_renamed_execution.yml

Sources and licences

  • SigmaHQ

    "Renamed VsCode Code Tunnel Execution - File Indicator" by Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ). Rule: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_vscode_tunnel_renamed_execution.yml.
    Licensed under the Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License

    Detection Rule License (DRL) 1.1

Cite this page

Dragons Eye Ransomware Tracker, "Sigma rule: Renamed VsCode Code Tunnel Execution - File Indicator",
entity page, dataset version ref-62bc4e1282b8, updated 2023-10-25T00:00:00.000Z,
https://ransomware-tracker.com/detections/sigma/d102b8f5-61dc-4e68-bd83-9a3187c67377 (accessed 2026-11-03).
Underlying source: SigmaHQ rule d102b8f5-61dc-4e68-bd83-9a3187c67377, commit ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84.

Pages change. The dataset version identifies the data, but no archive of old versions is kept, so this citation cannot be replayed later.