Sysinternals PsSuspend Execution


Description

Detects usage of Sysinternals PsSuspend which can be abused to suspend critical processes

Query · sigma

selection:
- OriginalFileName: pssuspend.exe
- Image|endswith:
  - \pssuspend.exe
  - \pssuspend64.exe
  - \pssuspend64a.exe
condition: selection

Known false positives

  • Unknown
Raw source Sysinternals PsSuspend Execution · Sigma
Esc
Published by SigmaHQ/sigma ↗, licensed under Detection Rule License 1.1 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified.
title: Sysinternals PsSuspend Execution
id: 48bbc537-b652-4b4e-bd1d-281172df448f
related:
    - id: 4beb6ae0-f85b-41e2-8f18-8668abc8af78
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects usage of Sysinternals PsSuspend which can be abused to suspend critical processes
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/pssuspend
    - https://twitter.com/0gtweet/status/1638069413717975046
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-03-23
modified: 2026-06-29
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1543.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - OriginalFileName: 'pssuspend.exe'
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\pssuspend.exe'
              - '\pssuspend64.exe'
              - '\pssuspend64a.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

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