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Remote Management and Monitoring tool - DistantDesktop - File Signature

kql MEDIUM Azure-Sentinel
T1219
huntingmicrosoftofficial
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 Azure-Sentinel →
Retrieved: 2026-05-27T11:00:00Z · Confidence: medium

Hunt Hypothesis

The detection identifies potential adversary use of DistantDesktop, a Remote Management and Monitoring tool, to establish persistence or command and control channels by leveraging file signature anomalies. SOC teams should proactively hunt for this behavior in Azure Sentinel to detect and mitigate advanced threats exploiting legitimate RMM tools.

KQL Query

let Time_start = now(-5d);
let Time_end = now();
//
DeviceFileCertificateInfo
| where Timestamp between (Time_start..Time_end)
| where Signer has 'German Gorodokuplya'
| summarize FirstSeen=min(Timestamp), LastSeen=max(Timestamp), 
    Report=make_set(ReportId), Count=count() by DeviceId, DeviceName

Analytic Rule Definition

id: 16a67b68-7d68-454e-b903-84a1462f1bd0
name: Remote Management and Monitoring tool - DistantDesktop - File Signature
description: |
    Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) programs are IT to manage remote endpoints. Attackers have begun to abuse these programs to persist or provide C2 channels.
    https://github.com/jischell-msft/RemoteManagementMonitoringTools
requiredDataConnectors:
- connectorId: MicrosoftThreatProtection
  dataTypes:
  - DeviceFileCertificateInfo
tactics: CommandAndControl
relevantTechniques: T1219
query: |
  let Time_start = now(-5d);
  let Time_end = now();
  //
  DeviceFileCertificateInfo
  | where Timestamp between (Time_start..Time_end)
  | where Signer has 'German Gorodokuplya'
  | summarize FirstSeen=min(Timestamp), LastSeen=max(Timestamp), 
      Report=make_set(ReportId), Count=count() by DeviceId, DeviceName

MITRE ATT&CK Context

References

False Positive Guidance

Original source: https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/main/Hunting Queries/Microsoft 365 Defender/RemoteManagementMonitoring/rmm_DistantDesktop_filesig.yaml