Suspicious File Creation In Uncommon AppData Folder


Description

Detects the creation of suspicious files and folders inside the user's AppData folder but not inside any of the common and well known directories (Local, Romaing, LocalLow). This method could be used as a method to bypass detection who exclude the AppData folder in fear of FPs

Query · sigma

selection:
  TargetFilename|startswith: C:\Users\
  TargetFilename|contains: \AppData\
  TargetFilename|endswith:
  - .bat
  - .cmd
  - .cpl
  - .dll
  - .exe
  - .hta
  - .iso
  - .lnk
  - .msi
  - .ps1
  - .psm1
  - .scr
  - .vbe
  - .vbs
filter_main:
  TargetFilename|startswith: C:\Users\
  TargetFilename|contains:
  - \AppData\Local\
  - \AppData\LocalLow\
  - \AppData\Roaming\
condition: selection and not filter_main

Known false positives

  • Unlikely
Raw source Suspicious File Creation In Uncommon AppData Folder · Sigma
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Published by SigmaHQ/sigma ↗, licensed under Detection Rule License 1.1 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified.
title: Suspicious File Creation In Uncommon AppData Folder
id: d7b50671-d1ad-4871-aa60-5aa5b331fe04
status: test
description: Detects the creation of suspicious files and folders inside the user's AppData folder but not inside any of the common and well known directories (Local, Romaing, LocalLow). This method could be used as a method to bypass detection who exclude the AppData folder in fear of FPs
references:
    - Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-05
modified: 2023-02-23
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|startswith: 'C:\Users\'
        TargetFilename|contains: '\AppData\'
        TargetFilename|endswith:
            # Add more as needed
            - '.bat'
            - '.cmd'
            - '.cpl'
            - '.dll'
            - '.exe'
            - '.hta'
            - '.iso'
            - '.lnk'
            - '.msi'
            - '.ps1'
            - '.psm1'
            - '.scr'
            - '.vbe'
            - '.vbs'
    filter_main:
        TargetFilename|startswith: 'C:\Users\'
        TargetFilename|contains:
            - '\AppData\Local\'
            - '\AppData\LocalLow\'
            - '\AppData\Roaming\'
    condition: selection and not filter_main
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

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