Windows PUA Named Pipe
The following analytic detects the creation or connection to named pipes used by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) like VPNs or utilities like PsExec. It leverages Sysmon EventCodes 17 and 18. If confirmed…
Description
The following analytic detects the creation or connection to named pipes used by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) like VPNs or utilities like PsExec. It leverages Sysmon EventCodes 17 and 18. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to abuse these to potentially gain persistence, command and control, or further system compromise.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- LinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- sysmon_eventid_17sysmon_eventid_18
Known benign triggers
- PUAs can be used in a legitimate manner. Therefore, some of the named pipes identified and added may cause false positives. Filter by process name or pipe name to reduce false positives.
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/T1218/009/ | 10 |
| docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/ipc/named-pipes | 4 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 95b11d20-e2c6-46a5-b526-8629f5f0860a
- Tagged by the source as
- Active Directory Lateral MovementBlackByte RansomwareCactus RansomwareCISA AA22-320ADarkGate MalwareDarkSide RansomwareDHS Report TA18-074AHAFNIUM GroupIcedIDMedusa RansomwareRhysida RansomwareSamSam RansomwareSandworm ToolsSeashell BlizzardVanHelsing RansomwareVolt TyphoonEndpointendpointSplunk 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
- Oct 6, 2026
- Version
- 2