Impacket Lateral Movement Commandline Parameters
The following analytic identifies the use of suspicious command-line parameters associated with Impacket tools, such as `wmiexec.py`, `smbexec.py`, `dcomexec.py`, and `atexec.py`, which are used for lateral movement…
Description
The following analytic identifies the use of suspicious command-line parameters associated with Impacket tools, such as `wmiexec.py`, `smbexec.py`, `dcomexec.py`, and `atexec.py`, which are used for lateral movement and remote code execution. It detects these activities by analyzing process execution logs from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on specific command-line patterns. This activity is significant because Impacket tools are commonly used by adversaries and Red Teams to move laterally within a network. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to execute commands remotely, potentially leading to further compromise and data exfiltration.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- crowdstrike_processrollup2sysmon_eventid_1windows_event_log_security_4688
Known benign triggers
- Although uncommon, Administrators may leverage Impackets tools to start a process on remote systems for system administration or automation use cases.
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 |
|---|---|
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/002/ | 4 |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/003/ | 7 |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1047/ | 9 |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/ | 3 |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/005/ | 12 |
| github.com/SecureAuthCorp/impacket | 3 |
| vk9-sec.com/impacket-remote-code-execution-rce-on-windows-from-linux/ | 3 |
| www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/05/24/volt-typhoon-targets-us-critical-infrastructure-with-living-off-the-land-techniques/ | 20 |
| www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/01/15/destructive-malware-targeting-ukrainian-organizations/ | 27from 2 sources |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 8ce07472-496f-11ec-ab3b-3e22fbd008af
- Tagged by the source as
- Active Directory Lateral MovementCISA AA22-277ACompromised Windows HostData DestructionGozi MalwareGraceful Wipe Out AttackIndustroyer2Prestige RansomwareStorm-0501 RansomwareVolt TyphoonWhisperGateEndpointendpointSplunk 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