Windows Browser Process Launched with Unusual Flags
The following analytic detects the use of unusual browser flags, specifically --mute-audio and --do-not-elevate, which deviate from standard browser launch behavior. These flags may indicate automated scripts, testing environments, or attempts to modify browser functionality for silent operation or restricted privilege execution. Detection focuses on non-standard launch parameters, unexpected process behavior, or deviations from baseline configurations. Monitoring such flag usage helps identify potentially suspicious activity, misconfigurations, or policy violations, enabling security teams to investigate anomalies, ensure system compliance, and differentiate legitimate administrative or testing uses from unusual or unauthorized operations.
| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where NOT (Processes.parent_process_name IN ("chrome.exe", "msedge.exe", "brave.exe", "firefox.exe", "explorer.exe")) AND NOT (Processes.parent_process_path IN("C:\\Program Files*", "C:\\Windows\\System32\\*", "C:\\Windows\\SysWow64\\*",)) AND Processes.process_name IN ("chrome.exe", "msedge.exe", "brave.exe", "firefox.exe") AND Processes.process IN ("*--mute-audio*","*--no-de-elevate*", "*--do-not-de-elevate*") by Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_browser_process_launched_with_unusual_flags_filter`