Notepad Password Files Discovery

calendar Mar 4, 2025 · attack.discovery attack.t1083  ·
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Detects the execution of Notepad to open a file that has the string "password" which may indicate unauthorized access to credentials or suspicious activity.

Sigma rule (View on GitHub)

 1title: Notepad Password Files Discovery
 2id: 3b4e950b-a3ea-44d3-877e-432071990709
 3status: experimental
 4description: Detects the execution of Notepad to open a file that has the string "password" which may indicate unauthorized access to credentials or suspicious activity.
 5references:
 6    - https://thedfirreport.com/2025/02/24/confluence-exploit-leads-to-lockbit-ransomware/
 7    - https://intel.thedfirreport.com/eventReports/view/57  # Private Report
 8author: 'The DFIR Report'
 9tags:
10    - attack.discovery
11    - attack.t1083
12date: 2025-02-21
13logsource:
14    product: windows
15    category: process_creation
16detection:
17    selection:
18        ParentImage|endswith: '\explorer.exe'
19        Image|endswith: '\notepad.exe'
20        CommandLine|endswith:
21        # Note: Commandline to contain a file with the string password and a specific extension
22            - 'password*.txt'
23            - 'password*.csv'
24            - 'password*.doc'
25            - 'password*.xls'
26    condition: selection
27falsepositives:
28    - Legitimate use of opening files from remote hosts by administrators or users. However, storing passwords in text readable format could potentially be a violation of the organization's policy. Any match should be investigated further.
29level: low

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