Windows Chromium Process with Disabled Extensions
The following analytic detects instances of Chromium-based browser processes on Windows launched with extensions explicitly disabled via command-line arguments. Disabling extensions can be used by automation…
Description
The following analytic detects instances of Chromium-based browser processes on Windows launched with extensions explicitly disabled via command-line arguments. Disabling extensions can be used by automation frameworks, testing tools, or headless browser activity, but may also indicate defense evasion or abuse of browser functionality by malicious scripts or malware. This behavior reduces browser visibility and bypasses user-installed security extensions, making it relevant for detecting non-interactive execution, suspicious automation, or living-off-the-land techniques. Analysts should validate execution context, parent process, and command-line parameters to determine legitimacy.
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
- Administrators may enable or disable this feature for framework testing that may cause some false positive.
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 |
|---|---|
| peter.sh/experiments/chromium-command-line-switches/ | 6 |
| www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/26/a/analysis-of-the-evelyn-stealer-campaign.html | 5 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- ce245717-779b-483b-bc52-fc7a94729973
- Tagged by the source as
- Browser HijackingEndpointendpointSplunk 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