Unexpected Internal Process Name

 1title: Unexpected Internal Process Name
 2id: a6d26b45-14ea-4ee0-901c-3aefc384d3c9
 3status: experimental
 4description: |
 5    Detects instances where the powershell process is renamed to notepad for defense evasion. 
 6    Part of the RedCanary 2024 Threat Detection Report.    
 7references:
 8    - https://redcanary.com/threat-detection-report/techniques/rename-system-utilities/
 9author: RedCanary, Sigma formatting by Micah Babinski
10date: 2024/03/21
11tags:
12    - attack.defense_evasion
13    - attack.t1036
14    - attack.t1036.003
15logsource:
16    category: process_creation
17    product: windows
18detection:
19    selection:
20        Image|endswith: '\notepad.exe'
21        OriginalFileName: 'powershell.exe'
22    condition: selection
23falsepositives:
24    - Unknown
25level: low```

References

• Rename System Utilities - Red Canary Threat Detection Report

  

  Adversaries rename system utilities to circumvent security controls and bypass detection logic dependent on process names and process paths.

  
  Read More

Related rules

• Processes Executing with Unusual Command Lines
• PUA - Potential PE Metadata Tamper Using Rcedit
• Potential Homoglyph Attack Using Lookalike Characters
• Suspicious Use of Rcedit Utility to Alter Executable Metadata
• Command or Scripting Interpreter Creating EXE File