Setup16.EXE Execution With Custom .Lst File

calendar Oct 23, 2025 · attack.privilege-escalation attack.persistence attack.defense-evasion attack.t1574.005  ·
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Detects the execution of "Setup16.EXE" and old installation utility with a custom ".lst" file. These ".lst" file can contain references to external program that "Setup16.EXE" will execute. Attackers and adversaries might leverage this as a living of the land utility.

Sigma rule (View on GitHub)

 1title: Setup16.EXE Execution With Custom .Lst File
 2id: 99c8be4f-3087-4f9f-9c24-8c7e257b442e
 3status: test
 4description: |
 5    Detects the execution of "Setup16.EXE" and old installation utility with a custom ".lst" file.
 6    These ".lst" file can contain references to external program that "Setup16.EXE" will execute.
 7    Attackers and adversaries might leverage this as a living of the land utility.    
 8references:
 9    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2024/10/12/the-sweet16-the-oldbin-lolbin-called-setup16-exe/
10author: frack113
11date: 2024-12-01
12tags:
13    - attack.privilege-escalation
14    - attack.persistence
15    - attack.defense-evasion
16    - attack.t1574.005
17logsource:
18    category: process_creation
19    product: windows
20detection:
21    selection:
22        ParentImage: 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\setup16.exe'
23        ParentCommandLine|contains: ' -m '
24    filter_optional_valid_path:
25        Image|startswith: 'C:\~MSSETUP.T\'
26    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
27falsepositives:
28    - On modern Windows system, the "Setup16" utility is practically never used, hence false positive should be very rare.
29level: medium

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