sigmamediumHunting

Suspicious Download Via Certutil.EXE

Detects the execution of certutil with certain flags that allow the utility to download files.

MITRE ATT&CK

defense-evasioncommand-and-control

Detection Query

selection_img:
  - Image|endswith: \certutil.exe
  - OriginalFileName: CertUtil.exe
selection_flags:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - "urlcache "
    - "verifyctl "
    - "URL "
selection_http:
  CommandLine|contains: http
condition: all of selection_*

Author

Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2023-02-15

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.t1027attack.command-and-controlattack.t1105

Raw Content

title: Suspicious Download Via Certutil.EXE
id: 19b08b1c-861d-4e75-a1ef-ea0c1baf202b
related:
    - id: 13e6fe51-d478-4c7e-b0f2-6da9b400a829
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects the execution of certutil with certain flags that allow the utility to download files.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/certutil
    - https://forensicitguy.github.io/agenttesla-vba-certutil-download/
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2021/04/13/compromised-exchange-server-hosting-cryptojacker-targeting-other-exchange-servers/
    - https://twitter.com/egre55/status/1087685529016193025
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Certutil/
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/certutil-one-more-gui-lolbin
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-02-15
modified: 2025-12-01
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1027
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1105
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\certutil.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'CertUtil.exe'
    selection_flags:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'urlcache '
            - 'verifyctl '
            - 'URL '
    selection_http:
        CommandLine|contains: 'http'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_certutil_download/info.yml