InformationalSplunk security content Raven Tait +1

Windows .Key File Creation in Root Directory

Detects the creation of a .key file in the root directory of the system drive. This activity was seen with various ransomware before performing encryption of files.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform: ESXi IaaS Linux macOS Windows
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 may occur if legitimate software or administrative tools create key files in the root directory, although this is uncommon in normal operations. Filter alerts based on known approved applications.

References

Links the source published beside this detection. Reference is the link the source wrote, unmodified. Class is decided by this catalogue from the host and path, not stated by the source. Cited by counts published detections citing the same resource, including this one, and the sources beneath it count the repositories this catalogue ingests, which is not the same as independent research.
Reference	Class	Cited by
www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/alerts/aa22-321a	Vendor advisory	6from 2 sources

Detection rules

Windows .Key File Creation in Root Directory

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Known benign triggers

MITRE ATT&CK mappings

References

From the source

Licence

Authorship

Detection rules