LoFP / many benign applications will create processes from executables in windows\temp, although unlikely to exceed the given threshold. filter as needed.

Techniques

• T1059

Sample rules

Excessive distinct processes from Windows Temp

• source: splunk
• technicques:
  • T1059

Description

The following analytic identifies an excessive number of distinct processes executing from the Windows\Temp directory. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process paths and counts within a 20-minute window. This behavior is significant as it often indicates the presence of post-exploit frameworks like Koadic and Meterpreter, which use this technique to execute malicious actions. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, and maintain persistence within the environment, posing a severe threat to system integrity and security.

Detection logic

| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` values(Processes.process) as process distinct_count(Processes.process) as distinct_process_count  min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_path = "*\\Windows\\Temp\\*" by Processes.dest Processes.user  _time span=20m 
| where distinct_process_count > 37 
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `excessive_distinct_processes_from_windows_temp_filter`