Windows Process Injection In Non-Service SearchIndexer
The following analytic identifies instances of the searchindexer.exe process that are not spawned by services.exe, indicating potential process injection. This detection leverages data from Endpoint Detection and…
Description
The following analytic identifies instances of the searchindexer.exe process that are not spawned by services.exe, indicating potential process injection. This detection leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process names and parent processes. This activity is significant because QakBot malware often uses a fake searchindexer.exe to evade detection and perform malicious actions such as data exfiltration and keystroke logging. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to maintain persistence, steal sensitive information, and communicate with command and control servers.
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
- No false positives have been identified at this time.
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 |
|---|---|
| twitter.com/1ZRR4H/status/1735944522075386332 | 2 |
| twitter.com/Max_Mal_/status/1736392741758611607 | 2 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- d131673f-ede1-47f2-93a1-0108d3e7fafd
- Tagged by the source as
- QakbotEndpointendpointSplunk 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