Xwizard.EXE Execution From Non-Default Location

calendar Oct 23, 2025 · attack.privilege-escalation attack.persistence attack.defense-evasion attack.t1574.001  ·
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Detects the execution of Xwizard tool from a non-default directory. When executed from a non-default directory, this utility can be abused in order to side load a custom version of "xwizards.dll".

Sigma rule (View on GitHub)

 1title: Xwizard.EXE Execution From Non-Default Location
 2id: 193d5ccd-6f59-40c6-b5b0-8e32d5ddd3d1
 3status: test
 4description: |
 5    Detects the execution of Xwizard tool from a non-default directory.
 6    When executed from a non-default directory, this utility can be abused in order to side load a custom version of "xwizards.dll".    
 7references:
 8    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Xwizard/
 9    - http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2017/07/31/the-wizard-of-x-oppa-plugx-style/
10author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems)
11date: 2021-09-20
12modified: 2024-08-15
13tags:
14    - attack.privilege-escalation
15    - attack.persistence
16    - attack.defense-evasion
17    - attack.t1574.001
18logsource:
19    category: process_creation
20    product: windows
21detection:
22    selection:
23        - Image|endswith: '\xwizard.exe'
24        - OriginalFileName: 'xwizard.exe'
25    filter_main_legit_location:
26        Image|startswith:
27            - 'C:\Windows\System32\'
28            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
29            - 'C:\Windows\WinSxS\'
30    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
31falsepositives:
32    - Windows installed on non-C drive
33level: high

References

  • Xwizard on LOLBAS

    Xwizard.exe is a living-of-the-land file containing unexpected functionality that can be abused by attackers; this page lists all its use cases.


    Read More

  • The Wizard of X – Oppa PlugX style

    Xwizard is an ‘Extensible wizard host process’. While I am not 100% sure what it is doing I know for certain that – whatever it is – PlugX guys would approve. Why? When you run it with a ‘/h’ comma...


    Read More

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