CMD Echo Pipe - Escalation
The following analytic identifies the use of named-pipe impersonation for privilege escalation, commonly associated with Cobalt Strike and similar frameworks. It detects command-line executions where `cmd.exe` uses…
Description
The following analytic identifies the use of named-pipe impersonation for privilege escalation, commonly associated with Cobalt Strike and similar frameworks. It detects command-line executions where `cmd.exe` uses `echo` to write to a named pipe, such as `cmd.exe /c echo 4sgryt3436 > \\.\Pipe\5erg53`. This detection leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process and command-line telemetry. This activity is significant as it indicates potential privilege escalation attempts. If confirmed malicious, attackers could gain elevated privileges, enabling further compromise and persistence within the environment.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- crowdstrike_processrollup2sysmon_eventid_1windows_event_log_security_4688
Known benign triggers
- No false positives have been identified at this time. fidelity.
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/rapid7/meterpreter/blob/master/source/extensions/priv/server/elevate/namedpipe.c | Only this detection cites it |
| redcanary.com/threat-detection-report/threats/cobalt-strike/ | 2from 2 sources |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- eb277ba0-b96b-11eb-b00e-acde48001122
- Tagged by the source as
- BlackByte RansomwareCobalt StrikeCompromised Windows HostGraceful Wipe Out AttackEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1