Sigma rule: Renamed AutoIt Execution

Rule

Title

Renamed AutoIt Execution

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)

Date

2023-06-04

Modified

2024-11-23

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_renamed_autoit.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the execution of a renamed AutoIt2.exe or AutoIt3.exe.
AutoIt is a scripting language and automation tool for Windows systems. While primarily used for legitimate automation tasks, it can be misused in cyber attacks.
Attackers can leverage AutoIt to create and distribute malware, including keyloggers, spyware, and botnets. A renamed AutoIt executable is particularly suspicious.

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_1:
    CommandLine|contains:
        - ' /AutoIt3ExecuteScript'
        - ' /ErrorStdOut'
selection_2:
    Hashes|contains:
        - 'IMPHASH=FDC554B3A8683918D731685855683DDF'  # AutoIt v2 - doesn't cover all binaries
        - 'IMPHASH=CD30A61B60B3D60CECDB034C8C83C290'  # AutoIt v2 - doesn't cover all binaries
        - 'IMPHASH=F8A00C72F2D667D2EDBB234D0C0AE000'  # AutoIt v3 - doesn't cover all binaries
selection_3:
    OriginalFileName:
        - 'AutoIt3.exe'
        - 'AutoIt2.exe'
        - 'AutoIt.exe'
filter_main_legit_name:
    Image|endswith:
        - '\AutoIt.exe'
        - '\AutoIt2.exe'
        - '\AutoIt3_x64.exe'
        - '\AutoIt3.exe'
condition: 1 of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unknown

Tags

• attack.stealth
• attack.t1027

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1027

References

• https://twitter.com/malmoeb/status/1665463817130725378?s=12&t=C0_T_re0wRP_NfKa27Xw9w
• https://www.autoitscript.com/site/

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_renamed_autoit.yml