Service Path Modification

Identifies attempts to modify a service path by an unusual process. Attackers may attempt to modify existing services for persistence or privilege escalation.

Rule type: eql
Rule indices:

• logs-endpoint.events.registry-*
• endgame-*
• logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
• winlogbeat-*

Rule Severity: low
Risk Score: 21
Runs every: 60m
Searches indices from: now-119m
Maximum alerts per execution: ?
References:

Tags:

• Domain: Endpoint
• OS: Windows
• Use Case: Threat Detection
• Tactic: Defense Evasion
• Data Source: Elastic Endgame
• Data Source: Elastic Defend
• Rule Type: BBR
• Data Source: Sysmon

Version: ?
Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

registry where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "change" and
  registry.path : (
    "HKLM\\SYSTEM\\*ControlSet*\\Services\\*\\ImagePath",
    "\\REGISTRY\\MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\*ControlSet*\\Services\\*\\ImagePath"
  ) and not (
    process.executable : (
      "?:\\Program Files\\*.exe",
      "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\*.exe",
      "?:\\Windows\\System32\\services.exe",
      "?:\\Windows\\WinSxS\\*"
    )
  )

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK

• Tactic:

  • Name: Defense Evasion
  • Id: TA0005
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/

• Technique:

  • Name: Modify Registry
  • Id: T1112
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112/

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK

• Tactic:

  • Name: Persistence
  • Id: TA0003
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/

• 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/

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK

• 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/