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name: Windows Cmdline Tool Execution From Non-Shell Process
id: 2afa393f-b88d-41b7-9793-623c93a2dfde
version: 13
version: 14
creation_date: '2021-09-14'
modification_date: '2026-05-13'
modification_date: '2026-10-12'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic identifies instances where `ipconfig.exe`, `systeminfo.exe`, or similar tools are executed by a non-standard shell parent process, excluding CMD, PowerShell, or Explorer. This detection leverages Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) telemetry to monitor process creation events. Such behavior is significant as it may indicate adversaries using injected processes to perform system discovery, a tactic observed in FIN7's JSSLoader. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to gather critical host information, aiding in further exploitation or lateral movement within the network.
description: The following analytic identifies instances where `ipconfig.exe`, `systeminfo.exe`, `net.exe`, or similar tools are executed by a non-standard shell parent process, excluding CMD, PowerShell, Explorer, or `net.exe`. This detection leverages Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) telemetry to monitor process creation events. Such behavior is significant as it may indicate adversaries using injected processes to perform system discovery, a tactic observed in FIN7's JSSLoader. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to gather critical host information, aiding in further exploitation or lateral movement within the network.
data_source:
- Sysmon EventID 1
- Windows Event Log Security 4688
- CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_name IN ("ipconfig.exe", "systeminfo.exe", "net1.exe", "arp.exe", "nslookup.exe", "route.exe", "netstat.exe", "hostname.exe", "whoami.exe") AND NOT Processes.parent_process_name IN ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "powershell_ise.exe", "pwsh.exe", "explorer.exe", "-", "unknown") by Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_cmdline_tool_execution_from_non_shell_process_filter`'
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_name IN ("ipconfig.exe", "systeminfo.exe", "net.exe", "net1.exe", "arp.exe", "nslookup.exe", "route.exe", "netstat.exe", "hostname.exe", "whoami.exe") AND NOT Processes.parent_process_name IN ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "powershell_ise.exe", "pwsh.exe", "explorer.exe", "net.exe", "-", "unknown") by Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_cmdline_tool_execution_from_non_shell_process_filter`'
how_to_implement: The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint` data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed up the data modeling process.
known_false_positives: A network operator or systems administrator may utilize an automated host discovery application that may generate false positives. Filter as needed.
references:
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