Potential Hidden Directory Creation Via NTFS INDEX_ALLOCATION Stream - CLI

calendar Sep 1, 2026 · attack.stealth attack.t1564.004  ·
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Detects command line containing reference to the "::$index_allocation" stream, which can be used as a technique to prevent access to folders or files from tooling such as "explorer.exe" or "powershell.exe"

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 1title: Potential Hidden Directory Creation Via NTFS INDEX_ALLOCATION Stream - CLI
 2id: 0900463c-b33b-49a8-be1d-552a3b553dae
 3related:
 4    - id: a8f866e1-bdd4-425e-a27a-37619238d9c7
 5      type: similar
 6status: test
 7description: |
 8        Detects command line containing reference to the "::$index_allocation" stream, which can be used as a technique to prevent access to folders or files from tooling such as "explorer.exe" or "powershell.exe"
 9references:
10    - https://twitter.com/pfiatde/status/1681977680688738305
11    - https://soroush.me/blog/2010/12/a-dotty-salty-directory-a-secret-place-in-ntfs-for-secret-files/
12    - https://sec-consult.com/blog/detail/pentesters-windows-ntfs-tricks-collection/
13    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/5c3b23002d2bbede3c07e7307165fc2a235a427d/atomics/T1564.004/T1564.004.md#atomic-test-5---create-hidden-directory-via-index_allocation
14    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-fscc/c54dec26-1551-4d3a-a0ea-4fa40f848eb3
15author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Scoubi (@ScoubiMtl)
16date: 2023-10-09
17tags:
18    - attack.stealth
19    - attack.t1564.004
20logsource:
21    product: windows
22    category: process_creation
23detection:
24    selection:
25        # Note: Both Sysmon and ETW are unable to log the presence of such stream in the CommandLine. But EDRs such as Crowdstrike are able to using for example CMD console history. Users are advised to test this before usage
26        CommandLine|contains: '::$index_allocation'
27    condition: selection
28falsepositives:
29    - Unlikely
30level: medium
31regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_susp_hidden_dir_index_allocation/info.yml

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