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Regsvr32 Rundll32 with Anomalous Parent Process

Description

This analytical rule looks for rundll32.exe or regsvr32.exe being spawned by abnormal processes: wscript.exe, powershell.exe, cmd.exe, pwsh.exe, cscript.exe. Blog: https://threathunt.blog/running-live-malware-for-threat-hunting-purposes/
Rule type
Scheduled
Version
1.0.0
Declared status
Available
Query frequency
1h
Query period
1h
Trigger
gt 0

Declared MITRE coverage

Declared sources

Metadata from the source file. No dependencies inferred from KQL.

Connectors

Data types

KQL query

Original query, unchanged.

DeviceProcessEvents
| where FileName has_any ("rundll32.exe","regsvr32.exe")
| where InitiatingProcessFileName has_any ("wscript.exe","powershell.exe","cmd.exe","pwsh.exe","cscript.exe")
| project TimeGenerated, DeviceName, InvestigatedProcessName=FileName, InvestigatedProcessCommandLine = ProcessCommandLine,InvestigatedProcessStartTime = ProcessCreationTime, InvestigatedProcessId = ProcessId, InitiatingProcessFileName, InitiatingProcessCommandLine, InitiatingProcessParentFileName
| join (
DeviceNetworkEvents
| where InitiatingProcessFileName has_any ("rundll32.exe","regsvr32.exe")
| where RemoteIPType == "Public"
| project DeviceName, InvestigatedProcessName=InitiatingProcessFileName, InvestigatedProcessCommandLine = InitiatingProcessCommandLine,InvestigatedProcessStartTime = InitiatingProcessCreationTime, InvestigatedProcessId = InitiatingProcessId, LocalIP, RemoteIP, RemoteUrl
) on DeviceName, InvestigatedProcessCommandLine, InvestigatedProcessId, InvestigatedProcessName, InvestigatedProcessStartTime
| project-away DeviceName1, InvestigatedProcessCommandLine1, InvestigatedProcessId1, InvestigatedProcessName1, InvestigatedProcessStartTime1
| extend HostName = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, 0, indexof(DeviceName, '.')), DeviceName)
| extend DnsDomain = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, indexof(DeviceName, '.') + 1), "")

Declared entities

HostIPURL

Related content

Links established from declared identifiers and solution manifests.

Source provenance

GitHub

Displayed values come from files in Azure/Azure-Sentinel. They describe the published template, not your workspace configuration.

Source identifier
2624fc55-0998-4897-bb48-1c6422befce4
Additional source files 2Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Defense Evasion/Regsvr32Rundll32WithAnomalousParentProcess.yamlsource ↗Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Data/Solution_Microsoft Defender XDR.jsonsolution-membership ↗
GSTEP / CATALOG TRACKING

Added to catalog : 16 Sept 2026 · 05:49 UTC
Last change observed : 16 Sept 2026 · 05:49 UTC

GSTEP sync dates, separate from the source content’s publication dates.