Explorer Process Tree Break
Detects a command line process that uses explorer.exe to launch arbitrary commands or binaries, which is similar to cmd.exe /c, only it breaks the process tree and makes its parent a new instance of explorer spawning…
Description
Detects a command line process that uses explorer.exe to launch arbitrary commands or binaries, which is similar to cmd.exe /c, only it breaks the process tree and makes its parent a new instance of explorer spawning from "svchost"
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source product
- windows
- Log source category
- process_creation
Known benign triggers
- Unknown
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| securityboulevard.com/2019/09/deobfuscating-ostap-trickbots-34000-line-javascript-downloader/ | Only this detection cites it |
| twitter.com/CyberRaiju/status/1273597319322058752 | Only this detection cites it |
| twitter.com/bohops/status/1276357235954909188?s=12 | Only this detection cites it |
| twitter.com/nas_bench/status/1535322450858233858 | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 949f1ffb-6e85-4f00-ae1e-c3c5b190d605
- Tagged by the source as
- attack.stealth
Licence
- Published under
- Detection Rule License 1.1Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1