Windows SSH Proxy Command
This detection identifies potential abuse of SSH "ProxyCommand" or "LocalCommand" by monitoring for suspicious process execution patterns. Specifically, it looks for instances where ssh.exe (as a parent process)…
Description
This detection identifies potential abuse of SSH "ProxyCommand" or "LocalCommand" by monitoring for suspicious process execution patterns. Specifically, it looks for instances where ssh.exe (as a parent process) containing "ProxyCommand" or "LocalCommand" in its arguments spawns potentially malicious child processes like mshta, powershell, wscript, or cscript, or processes containing "http" in their command line. This technique can be used by attackers to execute arbitrary commands through SSH proxy configurations, potentially enabling command & control activities or remote code execution. The detection focuses on commonly abused Windows scripting engines and web requests that may indicate malicious activity when spawned through SSH proxy commands.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ESXiLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 3 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- sysmon_eventid_1
Known benign triggers
- Legitimate use of SSH ProxyCommand or LocalCommand with scripting engines may trigger this detection. Filter as needed based on your environment's normal SSH usage patterns and authorized scripting activities.
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/T1572/ | 7from 2 sources |
| lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Ssh/ | 3from 3 sources |
| man.openbsd.org/ssh_config#LocalCommand | 2from 2 sources |
| man.openbsd.org/ssh_config#ProxyCommand | 2from 2 sources |
| www.virustotal.com/gui/file/c33f82868dbbfc3ab03918f430b1a348499f5baf047b136ff0a4fc3e8addaa9b/detection | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- ac520039-21f1-4567-b528-5b7133dba76f
- Tagged by the source as
- Hellcat RansomwareLiving Off The LandZDI-CAN-25373 Windows Shortcut Exploit Abused as Zero-DayEndpointendpointSplunk 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 10, 2026
- Version
- 2