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PUA - Rclone Execution

sigma HIGH SigmaHQ
T1567.002
imProcessCreate
backdoorransomware
This rule was pulled from an open-source repository and enriched with AI. Validate in a test environment before deploying to production.
View original rule at SigmaHQ →
Retrieved: 2026-05-17T11:00:00Z · Confidence: medium

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects execution of RClone utility for exfiltration as used by various ransomwares strains like REvil, Conti, FiveHands, etc

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: PUA - Rclone Execution
id: e37db05d-d1f9-49c8-b464-cee1a4b11638
related:
    - id: a0d63692-a531-4912-ad39-4393325b2a9c
      type: obsolete
    - id: cb7286ba-f207-44ab-b9e6-760d82b84253
      type: obsolete
status: test
description: Detects execution of RClone utility for exfiltration as used by various ransomwares strains like REvil, Conti, FiveHands, etc
references:
    - https://research.nccgroup.com/2021/05/27/detecting-rclone-an-effective-tool-for-exfiltration/
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/03/29/sodinokibi-aka-revil-ransomware
    - https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/analysis-reports/ar21-126a
    - https://labs.sentinelone.com/egregor-raas-continues-the-chaos-with-cobalt-strike-and-rclone
    - https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/security/darkside-ransomware-splunk-threat-update-and-detections.html
author: Bhabesh Raj, Sittikorn S, Aaron Greetham (@beardofbinary) - NCC Group
date: 2021-05-10
modified: 2023-03-05
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1567.002
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_specific_options:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '--config '
            - '--no-check-certificate '
            - ' copy '
    selection_rclone_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\rclone.exe'
        - Description: 'Rsync for cloud storage'
    selection_rclone_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'pass'
            - 'user'
            - 'copy'
            - 'sync'
            - 'config'
            - 'lsd'
            - 'remote'
            - 'ls'
            - 'mega'
            - 'pcloud'
            - 'ftp'
            - 'ignore-existing'
            - 'auto-confirm'
            - 'transfers'
            - 'multi-thread-streams'
            - 'no-check-certificate '
    condition: selection_specific_options or all of selection_rclone_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imProcessCreate
| where (TargetProcessCommandLine contains "--config " and TargetProcessCommandLine contains "--no-check-certificate " and TargetProcessCommandLine contains " copy ") or ((TargetProcessName endswith "\\rclone.exe" or TargetProcessFileDescription =~ "Rsync for cloud storage") and (TargetProcessCommandLine contains "pass" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "user" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "copy" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "sync" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "config" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "lsd" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "remote" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "ls" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "mega" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "pcloud" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "ftp" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "ignore-existing" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "auto-confirm" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "transfers" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "multi-thread-streams" or TargetProcessCommandLine contains "no-check-certificate "))

Required Data Sources

Sentinel TableNotes
imProcessCreateEnsure this data connector is enabled

False Positive Guidance

MITRE ATT&CK Context

References

Original source: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_pua_rclone_execution.yml