Sigma rule: Mstsc.EXE Execution From Uncommon Parent

Rule

Title

Mstsc.EXE Execution From Uncommon Parent

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Date

2023-04-18

File

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_mstsc_run_local_rpd_file_susp_parent.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects potential RDP connection via Mstsc using a local ".rdp" file located in suspicious locations.

Log source

product

windows

category

process_creation

Detection

selection_parent:
    ParentImage|endswith:
        # Covers potential downloads/clicks from browsers
        - '\brave.exe'
        - '\CCleanerBrowser.exe'
        - '\chrome.exe'
        - '\chromium.exe'
        - '\firefox.exe'
        - '\iexplore.exe'
        - '\microsoftedge.exe'
        - '\msedge.exe'
        - '\opera.exe'
        - '\vivaldi.exe'
        - '\whale.exe'
        # Covers potential downloads/clicks from email clients
        - '\outlook.exe'
selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: '\mstsc.exe'
    - OriginalFileName: 'mstsc.exe'
condition: all of selection_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unlikely

Tags

• attack.lateral-movement

References

• https://www.blackhillsinfosec.com/rogue-rdp-revisiting-initial-access-methods/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20230726144748/https://blog.thickmints.dev/mintsights/detecting-rogue-rdp/

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_mstsc_run_local_rpd_file_susp_parent.yml