Disclosed hacktool set - file cmd.bat

Hunt Hypothesis

This detection identifies adversaries deploying batch scripts (cmd.bat) as part of a disclosed hacktool set to establish persistence or execute initial command-and-control activities on compromised hosts. SOC teams should proactively hunt for this behavior in Azure Sentinel because batch files are frequently used by threat actors to obfuscate malicious execution and bypass standard script-based security controls, often serving as an early indicator of a broader intrusion campaign.

YARA Rule

rule Hacktools_CN_445_cmd {
	meta:
		description = "Disclosed hacktool set - file cmd.bat"
		author = "Florian Roth"
		date = "17.11.14"
		score = 60
		hash = "69b105a3aec3234819868c1a913772c40c6b727a"
	strings:
		$bat = "@echo off" fullword ascii
		$s0 = "cs.exe %1" fullword ascii
		$s2 = "nc %1 4444" fullword ascii
	condition:
		$bat at 0 and all of ($s*)
}

Deployment Notes

This YARA rule can be deployed in the following contexts:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint — Custom indicators / advanced hunting
• Email Gateway — Attachment scanning
• File Share Monitoring — Periodic scanning of shared drives
• YARA CLI — Manual threat hunting on endpoints

This rule contains 3 string patterns in its detection logic.

• Source Rule

False Positive Guidance

Here are 5 specific false positive scenarios for the Disclosed hacktool set - file cmd.bat detection rule, including suggested filters and exclusions:

• Scenario: Automated Deployment via PowerShell Wrapper

  • Context: DevOps teams often use a master cmd.bat script to orchestrate complex deployments. This script is frequently invoked by a scheduled task or a CI/CD pipeline (e.g., Jenkins, Azure DevOps) which calls powershell.exe that subsequently executes the .bat file containing hacktool logic for environment setup.
  • Filter/Exclusion: Exclude files located in specific deployment directories (e.g., C:\Deployments\Scripts\) and filter by parent process svchost.exe or jenkins-agent.exe where the user context is a dedicated service account (e.g., DOMAIN\svc-deploy).

• Scenario: Endpoint Management Tool Configuration

  • Context: Enterprise management suites like Microsoft Intune, SCCM (Configuration Manager), or Jamf often utilize custom .bat scripts to push configuration profiles, install patches, or run inventory checks. These scripts may invoke internal tools that are classified as “hacktools” by the detection engine due to their interactive nature and file manipulation capabilities.
  • Filter/Exclusion: Create an exclusion for files with a known digital signature from trusted vendors (e.g., Microsoft, Ivanti) or exclude paths under C:\Program Files\Microsoft Intune\ and C:\Windows\CCM\.

• Scenario: Scheduled Maintenance and Cleanup Jobs

  • Context: IT Operations teams schedule nightly maintenance tasks using Windows Task Scheduler. A common pattern involves a .bat file that runs disk cleanup utilities, rotates logs, or executes database backup commands (e.g., calling sqlcmd.exe). These scripts often contain logic to modify system