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Uncommon Child Process Spawned From XBootMgrSleep.EXE

Detects a process other than XBootMgr.exe spawned by XBootMgrSleep.exe. XBootMgrSleep.exe is a Microsoft-signed Windows Performance Toolkit binary that can execute an arbitrary executable after a delay.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1202

Detection Query

selection:
  ParentImage|endswith: \xbootmgrsleep.exe
filter_main_xbootmgr:
  Image: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Windows Performance
    Toolkit\xbootmgr.exe
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

Author

Diablo Research

Created

2026-09-27

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.stealthattack.t1202

Raw Content

title: Uncommon Child Process Spawned From XBootMgrSleep.EXE
id: 74697c29-1b30-4e1f-a517-33574061821d
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects a process other than XBootMgr.exe spawned by XBootMgrSleep.exe.
    XBootMgrSleep.exe is a Microsoft-signed Windows Performance Toolkit binary that can execute an arbitrary executable after a delay.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/OtherMSBinaries/XBootMgrSleep/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/desktop/xperf/reference
author: Diablo Research
date: 2026-09-27
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1202
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\xbootmgrsleep.exe'
    filter_main_xbootmgr:
        Image: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Windows Performance Toolkit\xbootmgr.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Custom Windows Performance Toolkit automation that intentionally launches another executable through XBootMgrSleep.exe
level: medium