Proxy Execution via Vshadow

calendar Jul 3, 2025 · attack.defense-evasion attack.t1202  ·
Share on: linkedin copy

Detects the invocation of vshadow.exe with the -exec parameter that executes a specified script or command after the shadow copies are created but before the VShadow tool exits. VShadow is a command-line tool that you can use to create and manage volume shadow copies. While legitimate backup or administrative scripts may use this flag, attackers can leverage this parameter to proxy the execution of malware.

Sigma rule (View on GitHub)

 1title: Proxy Execution via Vshadow
 2id: d7c75059-2901-4578-b209-8837fd31c6a8
 3status: experimental
 4description: |
 5    Detects the invocation of vshadow.exe with the -exec parameter that executes a specified script or command after the shadow copies are created but before the VShadow tool exits.
 6    VShadow is a command-line tool that you can use to create and manage volume shadow copies. While legitimate backup or administrative scripts may use this flag,
 7    attackers can leverage this parameter to proxy the execution of malware.    
 8author: David Faiss
 9date: 2025-05-26
10references:
11    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/OtherMSBinaries/Vshadow/
12    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/vss/vshadow-tool-and-sample
13tags:
14    - attack.defense-evasion
15    - attack.t1202
16logsource:
17    product: windows
18    category: process_creation
19detection:
20    selection_img:
21        - Image|endswith: '\vshadow.exe'
22        - OriginalFileName: 'vshadow.exe'
23    selection_cli:
24        CommandLine|contains: '-exec'
25    condition: all of selection_*
26falsepositives:
27    - System backup or administrator tools
28    - Legitimate administrative scripts
29level: medium

References

Related rules

to-top