XSL Script Execution Via WMIC.EXE
Detects the execution of WMIC with the "format" flag to potentially load local XSL files. Adversaries abuse this functionality to execute arbitrary files while potentially bypassing application whitelisting defenses.…
Description
Detects the execution of WMIC with the "format" flag to potentially load local XSL files. Adversaries abuse this functionality to execute arbitrary files while potentially bypassing application whitelisting defenses. Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) files are commonly used to describe the processing and rendering of data within XML files.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- LinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source product
- windows
- Log source category
- process_creation
Known benign triggers
- Static format arguments - https://petri.com/command-line-wmi-part-3
- WMIC.exe FP depend on scripts and administrative methods used in the monitored environment.
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 |
|---|---|
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1220/T1220.md | 3 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 05c36dd6-79d6-4a9a-97da-3db20298ab2d
- Tagged by the source as
- attack.executionattack.stealth
Licence
- Published under
- Detection Rule License 1.1Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1