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InformationalSplunk security contentJose Hernandez +2

Process Creating LNK file in Suspicious Location

The following analytic detects a process creating a `.lnk` file in suspicious locations such as `C:\User*` or `*\Local\Temp\*`. It leverages filesystem and process activity data from the Endpoint data model to…

Description

The following analytic detects a process creating a `.lnk` file in suspicious locations such as `C:\User*` or `*\Local\Temp\*`. It leverages filesystem and process activity data from the Endpoint data model to identify this behavior. This activity can be significant because creating `.lnk` files in these directories is a common indicator of spear phishing tools to establish persistence or execute malicious payloads. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to maintain persistence, execute arbitrary code, or further compromise the system.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
Identity ProviderLinuxmacOSOffice SuiteSaaSWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.

Log source category
sysmon_eventid_11

Known benign triggers

  • False positives are expected to occur, since `.lnk` files can be created legitimately by users or applications. To reduce false positives. To reduce noise, think of joining this to the process that created the LNK file and see if it's a known good process.

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