title: SystemHelpDesk Detection - Phorpiex (Botnet) Execution & Triage
id: d8579d9a-82c8-51c2-875a-777eba7ec8af
status: production
description: Detects execution, defense evasion, and persistence behaviors associated
  with the Phorpiex malware family. Detects firewall rule subversion, internal port
  proxying, and command-and-control keepalive polling indicative of botnet nodes.
references:
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/families/phorpiex
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/defensive/botnet-protection
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/
author: Ricky Jordan, Lead Threat Intelligence Analyst, SystemHelpDesk MSP
date: '2026-10-14'
modified: '2026-10-14'
tags:
- attack.botnet
- author.ricky-jordan
- source.systemhelpdesk-mfc
- attack.t1091
- attack.t1115
- attack.t1566_001
- attack.t1496
- attack.t1105
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_process:
    Image|endswith:
    - \netsh.exe
    - \route.exe
    - \arp.exe
    - \ping.exe
    CommandLine|contains:
    - advfirewall firewall add rule
    - netsh interface portproxy
    - ping -n 1 127.0.0.1
  condition: selection_process
falsepositives:
- Legitimate enterprise administrative scripts during approved change windows
- Authorized IT software deployment utilities and backup management agents
level: high