System Processes Run From Unexpected Locations
The following analytic identifies system processes running from unexpected locations outside of paths such as `C:\Windows\System32\` or `C:\Windows\SysWOW64`. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response…
Description
The following analytic identifies system processes running from unexpected locations outside of paths such as `C:\Windows\System32\` or `C:\Windows\SysWOW64`. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process paths, names, and hashes. This activity is significant as it may indicate a malicious process attempting to masquerade as a legitimate system process. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could allow an attacker to execute code, escalate privileges, or maintain persistence within the environment, posing a significant security risk.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- LinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- crowdstrike_processrollup2sysmon_eventid_1windows_event_log_security_4688
Known benign triggers
- This detection may require tuning based on third party applications utilizing native Windows binaries in non-standard paths.
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/T1036/003/ | 8 |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1036.003/T1036.003.yaml#L74 | 2 |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1036.003/T1036.003.yaml | 3 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- a34aae96-ccf8-4aef-952c-3ea21444444d
- Tagged by the source as
- DarkGate MalwareMasquerading - Rename System UtilitiesQakbotRansomwareSuspicious Command-Line ExecutionsUnusual ProcessesWindows Error Reporting Service Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
- Version
- 3