sigmamediumHunting

Windows Kernel Debugger Execution

Detects execution of the Windows Kernel Debugger "kd.exe".

Detection Query

selection:
  - Image|endswith: \kd.exe
  - OriginalFileName: kd.exe
condition: selection

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2023-05-15

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Internal Research

Tags

attack.privilege-escalationattack.stealth

Raw Content

title: Windows Kernel Debugger Execution
id: 27ee9438-90dc-4bef-904b-d3ef927f5e7e
status: test
description: Detects execution of the Windows Kernel Debugger "kd.exe".
references:
    - Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-15
modified: 2024-04-24
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.stealth
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Image|endswith: '\kd.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'kd.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Rare occasions of legitimate cases where kernel debugging is necessary in production. Investigation is required
level: medium