title: Windows Hotfix Updates Reconnaissance Via Wmic.EXE
id: dfd2fcb7-8bd5-4daa-b132-5adb61d6ad45
status: test
description: Detects the execution of wmic with the "qfe" flag in order to obtain information about installed hotfix updates on the system. This is often used by pentester and attacker enumeration scripts
references:
- https://github.com/carlospolop/PEASS-ng/blob/fa0f2e17fbc1d86f1fd66338a40e665e7182501d/winPEAS/winPEASbat/winPEAS.bat
- https://sushant747.gitbooks.io/total-oscp-guide/content/privilege_escalation_windows.html
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-06-20
modified: 2023-02-14
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.t1047
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe'
- Image|endswith: '\WMIC.exe'
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains: ' qfe'
condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: medium
simulation:
- type: atomic-red-team
name: WMI Reconnaissance Software
technique: T1047
atomic_guid: 718aebaa-d0e0-471a-8241-c5afa69c7414
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_hotfix/info.yml