Sigma rule: DarkGate - Autoit3.EXE Execution Parameters

Rule

Title

DarkGate - Autoit3.EXE Execution Parameters

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Micah Babinski

Date

2023-10-15

File

rules-emerging-threats/2023/Malware/DarkGate/proc_creation_win_malware_darkgate_autoit3_from_susp_parent_and_location.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects execution of the legitimate Autoit3 utility from a suspicious parent process. AutoIt3.exe is used within
the DarkGate infection chain to execute shellcode that performs process injection and connects to the DarkGate
command-and-control server.

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_proc:
    - Image|endswith: '\Autoit3.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'AutoIt3.exe'
selection_parent:
    ParentImage|endswith:
        - '\cmd.exe'
        - '\KeyScramblerLogon.exe'
        - '\msiexec.exe'
filter_main_legit_autoit_location:
    Image|endswith:
        - ':\Program Files (x86)\AutoIt3\AutoIt3.exe'
        - ':\Program Files\AutoIt3\AutoIt3.exe'
condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unlikely

Tags

• attack.execution
• attack.t1059
• detection.emerging-threats

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1059

References

• https://github.security.telekom.com/2023/08/darkgate-loader.html
• https://www.kroll.com/en/insights/publications/cyber/microsoft-teams-used-as-initial-access-for-darkgate-malware
• https://github.com/pr0xylife/DarkGate/tree/main

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules-emerging-threats/2023/Malware/DarkGate/proc_creation_win_malware_darkgate_autoit3_from_susp_parent_and_location.yml