IMPORTANT: No additional bug fixes or documentation updates
will be released for this version. For the latest information, see the
current release documentation.
Potential Privilege Escalation via Service ImagePath Modification
editPotential Privilege Escalation via Service ImagePath Modification
editIdentifies registry modifications to default services that could enable privilege escalation to SYSTEM. Attackers with privileges from groups like Server Operators may change the ImagePath of services to executables under their control or to execute commands.
Rule type: eql
Rule indices:
- logs-endpoint.events.registry-*
- logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
Severity: medium
Risk score: 47
Runs every: 5m
Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time
)
Maximum alerts per execution: 100
References:
Tags:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Windows
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Execution
- Tactic: Privilege Escalation
- Data Source: Elastic Defend
- Data Source: Sysmon
Version: 1
Rule authors:
- Elastic
Rule license: Elastic License v2
Rule query
editregistry where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "change" and process.executable != null and event.action == "modification" and registry.value == "ImagePath" and registry.key : ( "*\\ADWS", "*\\AppHostSvc", "*\\AppReadiness", "*\\AudioEndpointBuilder", "*\\AxInstSV", "*\\camsvc", "*\\CertSvc", "*\\COMSysApp", "*\\CscService", "*\\defragsvc", "*\\DeviceAssociationService", "*\\DeviceInstall", "*\\DevQueryBroker", "*\\Dfs", "*\\DFSR", "*\\diagnosticshub.standardcollector.service", "*\\DiagTrack", "*\\DmEnrollmentSvc", "*\\DNS", "*\\dot3svc", "*\\Eaphost", "*\\GraphicsPerfSvc", "*\\hidserv", "*\\HvHost", "*\\IISADMIN", "*\\IKEEXT", "*\\InstallService", "*\\iphlpsvc", "*\\IsmServ", "*\\LanmanServer", "*\\MSiSCSI", "*\\NcbService", "*\\Netlogon", "*\\Netman", "*\\NtFrs", "*\\PlugPlay", "*\\Power", "*\\PrintNotify", "*\\ProfSvc", "*\\PushToInstall", "*\\RSoPProv", "*\\sacsvr", "*\\SENS", "*\\SensorDataService", "*\\SgrmBroker", "*\\ShellHWDetection", "*\\shpamsvc", "*\\StorSvc", "*\\svsvc", "*\\swprv", "*\\SysMain", "*\\Themes", "*\\TieringEngineService", "*\\TokenBroker", "*\\TrkWks", "*\\UALSVC", "*\\UserManager", "*\\vm3dservice", "*\\vmicguestinterface", "*\\vmicheartbeat", "*\\vmickvpexchange", "*\\vmicrdv", "*\\vmicshutdown", "*\\vmicvmsession", "*\\vmicvss", "*\\vmvss", "*\\VSS", "*\\w3logsvc", "*\\W3SVC", "*\\WalletService", "*\\WAS", "*\\wercplsupport", "*\\WerSvc", "*\\Winmgmt", "*\\wisvc", "*\\wmiApSrv", "*\\WPDBusEnum", "*\\WSearch" ) and not ( registry.data.strings : ( "?:\\Windows\\system32\\*.exe", "%systemroot%\\system32\\*.exe", "%windir%\\system32\\*.exe", "%SystemRoot%\\system32\\svchost.exe -k *", "%windir%\\system32\\svchost.exe -k *" ) and not registry.data.strings : ( "*\\cmd.exe", "*\\cscript.exe", "*\\ieexec.exe", "*\\iexpress.exe", "*\\installutil.exe", "*\\Microsoft.Workflow.Compiler.exe", "*\\msbuild.exe", "*\\mshta.exe", "*\\msiexec.exe", "*\\msxsl.exe", "*\\net.exe", "*\\powershell.exe", "*\\pwsh.exe", "*\\reg.exe", "*\\RegAsm.exe", "*\\RegSvcs.exe", "*\\regsvr32.exe", "*\\rundll32.exe", "*\\vssadmin.exe", "*\\wbadmin.exe", "*\\wmic.exe", "*\\wscript.exe" ) )
Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
-
Tactic:
- Name: Privilege Escalation
- ID: TA0004
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/
-
Technique:
- Name: Create or Modify System Process
- ID: T1543
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: Windows Service
- ID: T1543.003
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/
-
Technique:
- Name: Hijack Execution Flow
- ID: T1574
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: Services Registry Permissions Weakness
- ID: T1574.011
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/011/
-
Tactic:
- Name: Execution
- ID: TA0002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/
-
Technique:
- Name: System Services
- ID: T1569
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1569/
-
Sub-technique:
- Name: Service Execution
- ID: T1569.002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1569/002/