sigmamediumHunting

PUA - NirCmd Execution

Detects the use of NirCmd tool for command execution, which could be the result of legitimate administrative activity

MITRE ATT&CK

execution

Detection Query

selection_org:
  - Image|endswith: \NirCmd.exe
  - OriginalFileName: NirCmd.exe
selection_cmd:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - " execmd "
    - ".exe script "
    - ".exe shexec "
    - " runinteractive "
combo_exec:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - " exec "
    - " exec2 "
combo_exec_params:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - " show "
    - " hide "
condition: 1 of selection_* or all of combo_*

Author

Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2022-01-24

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.executionattack.t1569.002attack.s0029

Raw Content

title: PUA - NirCmd Execution
id: 4e2ed651-1906-4a59-a78a-18220fca1b22
status: test
description: Detects the use of NirCmd tool for command execution, which could be the result of legitimate administrative activity
references:
    - https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html
    - https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/run-program-as-system-localsystem-account-windows/
    - https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd2.html#using
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-01-24
modified: 2023-02-13
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1569.002
    - attack.s0029
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_org:
        - Image|endswith: '\NirCmd.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'NirCmd.exe'
    selection_cmd:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' execmd '
            - '.exe script '
            - '.exe shexec '
            - ' runinteractive '
    combo_exec:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' exec '
            - ' exec2 '
    combo_exec_params:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' show '
            - ' hide '
    condition: 1 of selection_* or all of combo_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use by administrators
level: medium