Suspicious Windows Sandbox Execution


Description

Identifies Windows sanfbox processes indicating the start of a new container with sensitive configurations like write access to the host file system, network connection and automatic execution via logon command. Malware may abuse the sandbox feature to evade detection.

Query · eql

process where event.type == "start" and
(
  ((process.name : ("wsb.exe", "WindowsSandboxClient.exe") or process.pe.original_file_name in ("wsb.exe", "WindowsSandboxClient.exe")) and
   process.command_line : ("*<Networking>Enable</Networking>*",
                          "*<HostFolder>C:\\*<ReadOnly>false*",
                          "*<LogonCommand>*",
                          "*<NetworkingEnabled>true*")) or

  ((process.name : "WindowsSandbox.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "WindowsSandbox.exe") and user.id == "S-1-5-18") or

  (process.name : "schtasks.exe" and process.command_line : "*create*WindowsSandbox.exe*")
)
Raw source Suspicious Windows Sandbox Execution · Elastic TOML
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Published by elastic/protections-artifacts ↗, licensed under Elastic License 2.0 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified.
[rule]
description = """
Identifies Windows sanfbox processes indicating the start of a new container with sensitive configurations like write
access to the host file system, network connection and automatic execution via logon command. Malware may abuse the
sandbox feature to evade detection.
"""
id = "201220cd-bb74-4909-aeb5-c876bcc35870"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Suspicious Windows Sandbox Execution"
os_list = ["windows"]
reference = ["https://blog-en.itochuci.co.jp/entry/2025/03/12/140000"]
version = "1.0.3"

query = '''
process where event.type == "start" and
(
  ((process.name : ("wsb.exe", "WindowsSandboxClient.exe") or process.pe.original_file_name in ("wsb.exe", "WindowsSandboxClient.exe")) and
   process.command_line : ("*<Networking>Enable</Networking>*",
                          "*<HostFolder>C:\\*<ReadOnly>false*",
                          "*<LogonCommand>*",
                          "*<NetworkingEnabled>true*")) or

  ((process.name : "WindowsSandbox.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "WindowsSandbox.exe") and user.id == "S-1-5-18") or

  (process.name : "schtasks.exe" and process.command_line : "*create*WindowsSandbox.exe*")
)
'''

min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"
optional_actions = []
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0

[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1564"
name = "Hide Artifacts"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1564.006"
name = "Run Virtual Instance"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/006/"



[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"

[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"

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