Windows Data Destruction Recursive Exec Files Deletion

name: Windows Data Destruction Recursive Exec Files Deletion
id: 3596a799-6320-4a2f-8772-a9e98ddb2960
version: 11
date: '2026-03-16'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk, Steven Dick
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic identifies a suspicious process that is recursively deleting executable files on a compromised host. It leverages Sysmon Event Codes 23 and 26 to detect this activity by monitoring for a high volume of deletions or overwrites of files with extensions like .exe, .sys, and .dll. This behavior is significant as it is commonly associated with destructive malware such as CaddyWiper, DoubleZero, and SwiftSlicer, which aim to make file recovery impossible. If confirmed malicious, this activity could lead to significant data loss and system instability, severely impacting business operations.
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 23
    - Sysmon EventID 26
search: |-
    `sysmon` EventCode IN ("23","26") TargetFilename IN ("*.exe", "*.sys", "*.dll")
      | bin _time span=2m
      | stats count min(_time) as firstTime, max(_time) as lastTime values(file_path) as file_path values(file_hash) as file_hash values(file_name) as file_name values(file_modify_time) as file_modify_time values(process_name) as process_name values(process_path) as process_path values(process_guid) as process_guid values(process_id) as process_id values(process_exec) as process_exec
        BY action dest dvc
           signature signature_id user
           user_id vendor_product
      | where count >=100
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | `windows_data_destruction_recursive_exec_files_deletion_filter`
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you need to ingest logs that include the process name, TargetFilename, and ProcessID executions from your endpoints. If you are using Sysmon, ensure you have at least version 2.0 of the Sysmon TA installed.
known_false_positives: The uninstallation of a large software application or the use of cleanmgr.exe may trigger this detection. A filter is necessary to reduce false positives.
references:
    - https://www.welivesecurity.com/2023/01/27/swiftslicer-new-destructive-wiper-malware-ukraine/
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$user$" and "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  user = "$user$" dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$user$" and "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$user$", "$dest$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: The process $process_name$ has removed a significant quantity of executable files, totaling [$count$], from the destination $dest$.
    risk_objects:
        - field: user
          type: user
          score: 50
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Swift Slicer
        - Data Destruction
        - Handala Wiper
        - Disk Wiper
        - Void Manticore
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1485
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/malware/swift_slicer/sysmon.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog