Remote File Creation with PsExec
This query was originally published in the threat analytics report, Ryuk ransomware. There is also a related blog. Ryuk is human-operated ransomware. Much like DoppelPaymer ransomware, Ryuk is spread manually, often…
Description
This query was originally published in the threat analytics report, Ryuk ransomware. There is also a related blog. Ryuk is human-operated ransomware. Much like DoppelPaymer ransomware, Ryuk is spread manually, often on networks that are already infected with Trickbot. Ryuk operators use PsExec to manually spread the ransomware to other devices. The following query detects remote file creation events that might indicate an active attack. The See also section below lists links to other queries associated with Ryuk ransomware. References: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/03/05/human-operated-ransomware-attacks-a-preventable-disaster/ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/malware-encyclopedia-description?Name=Ransom:Win32/Ryuk.AA https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/03/05/human-operated-ransomware-attacks-a-preventable-disaster/ https://docs.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/psexec
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ESXiLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source product
- microsoftthreatprotection
- Log source service
- devicefileevents
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
No references are available for this detection.
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 35ab0d58-baab-4154-87ed-fa2f69797e9e
- Tagged by the source as
- LateralMovement
Licence
- Published under
- MIT LicenseRead the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- MITRead the origin licence
Authorship
- Published
- Sep 1, 2026
- Version
- 1