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SEKOIA_Tool_Paexec_Strings

Detects PAExec based on strings

Hack toolSEKOIA.IO CommunityDetection Rule License 1.1Compiles with YARA-X
Author
Sekoia.io
Date
2022-09-23
Modified
2024-12-19
Score / Quality
75 / 80

What this rule detects

Detects PAExec based on strings

Targets: Windows PE.

It defines 4 patterns (4 text, 0 hex, 0 regex).

Summary generated from the rule's metadata and condition.

Rule source

Download .yar
tool-paexec-strings.yarDetection Rule License 1.1
rule SEKOIA_Tool_Paexec_Strings : FILE
{
	meta:
		description = "Detects PAExec based on strings"
		author = "Sekoia.io"
		id = "c48b897c-0d88-4fa9-b64b-0e14a38a62d7"
		date = "2022-09-23"
		modified = "2024-12-19"
		reference = "https://github.com/SEKOIA-IO/Community"
		source_url = "https://github.com/SEKOIA-IO/Community/blob/a438a5901a211c2abdf75da9c93921ef187473d1/yara_rules/tool_paexec_strings.yar#L1-L19"
		license_url = "https://github.com/SEKOIA-IO/Community/blob/a438a5901a211c2abdf75da9c93921ef187473d1/LICENSE.md"
		logic_hash = "9c3bae822fd317bdc89c07542b05f6255d6af214071194570500eb2a12924ff6"
		score = 75
		quality = 80
		tags = "FILE"
		version = "1.0"
		classification = "TLP:CLEAR"

	strings:
		$ = "\\\\%s\\%s\\PAExec_Move%u.dat" wide
		$ = "PAExec_Move%u.dat" wide
		$ = "Usage: PAExec [\\\\computer[,computer2[,...]]" wide
		$ = "PAExec returning exit code %d" wide

	condition:
		uint16be( 0 ) == 0x4d5a and 3 of them and filesize < 500KB
}

Strings (4 patterns)

IdentifierTypeValueModifiers
$text"\\\\%s\\%s\\PAExec_Move%u.dat"wide
$text"PAExec_Move%u.dat"wide
$text"Usage: PAExec [\\\\computer[,computer2[,...]]"wide
$text"PAExec returning exit code %d"wide

Condition

uint16be( 0 ) == 0x4d5a and 3 of them and filesize < 500KB

In plain words (Heuristic)

  • The file must start with “MZ” — a Windows executable (PE).
  • The file must be smaller than 500KB (a cheap guard that skips large files).
  • At least 3 patterns in the rule must match.

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References

Licence & attribution

Author: Sekoia.io

Source repository: SEKOIA.IO Community @ a438a5901a

Licence: Detection Rule License 1.1 (repository licence)

Original rule

Mirrored via YARA Forge 20260927, which prefixes rule names with the source and adds normalised meta fields.

Rule id: c48b897c-0d88-4fa9-b64b-0e14a38a62d7

Metadata

version1.0
classificationTLP:CLEAR

Tags:FILE

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