Detectionhightest

Allow Service Access Using Security Descriptor Tampering Via Sc.EXE

Detects suspicious DACL modifications to allow access to a service from a suspicious trustee. This can be used to override access restrictions set by previous ACLs.

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Launch

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Created Tue Feb 28Updated Wed Oct 226c8fbee5-dee8-49bc-851d-c3142d02aa47windows

Log Source

WindowsProcess Creation

ProductWindows← raw: windows

CategoryProcess Creation← raw: process_creation

Events generated when a new process is spawned on the system. Covers command-line arguments, parent/child relationships, and process metadata.

Detection Logic

detection:
    selection_sc:
        - Image|endswith: '\sc.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'sc.exe'
    selection_sdset:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'sdset'
            - 'A;' # Allow Access
    selection_trustee:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ';IU' # Interactively logged-on user
            - ';SU' # Service logon user
            - ';BA' # Built-in administrators
            - ';SY' # Local system
            - ';WD' # Everyone
    filter_optional_hexnode:
        ParentImage: 'C:\Hexnode\Hexnode Agent\Current\HexnodeAgent.exe'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

False Positives

Unknown

False positive likelihood has not been assessed. Additional context may be needed during triage.

References

MITRE ATT&CK

Tactics

TA0004 · Privilege Escalation TA0003 · Persistence

Sub-techniques

T1543.003 · Windows Service

Related Rules

SimilarDetectionhigh

Service DACL Abuse To Hide Services Via Sc.EXE

Detects usage of the "sc.exe" utility adding a new service with special permission seen used by threat actors which makes the service hidden and unremovable.

Detects similar activity. Both rules may fire on overlapping events.

Rule Metadata

Rule ID

6c8fbee5-dee8-49bc-851d-c3142d02aa47

Status

test

Level

high

Type

Detection

Created

Tue Feb 28

Modified

Wed Oct 22

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Path

rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_sc_sdset_allow_service_changes.yml

Raw Tags

attack.privilege-escalationattack.persistenceattack.t1543.003

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