Sigma Rules
809 rules found for "privilege-escalation"
Function Call From Undocumented COM Interface EditionUpgradeManager
Detects function calls from the EditionUpgradeManager COM interface. Which is an interface that is not used by standard executables.
UAC Bypass Using WOW64 Logger DLL Hijack
Detects the pattern of UAC Bypass using a WoW64 logger DLL hijack (UACMe 30)
Interactive AT Job
Detects an interactive AT job, which may be used as a form of privilege escalation.
Suspicious Autorun Registry Modified via WMI
Detects suspicious activity where the WMIC process is used to create an autorun registry entry via reg.exe, which is often indicative of persistence mechanisms employed by malware.
Potential Reconnaissance For Cached Credentials Via Cmdkey.EXE
Detects usage of cmdkey to look for cached credentials on the system
Change Default File Association Via Assoc
Detects file association changes using the builtin "assoc" command. When a file is opened, the default program used to open the file (also called the file association or handler) is checked. File association selections are stored in the Windows Registry and can be edited by users, administrators, or programs that have Registry access or by administrators using the built-in assoc utility. Applications can modify the file association for a given file extension to call an arbitrary program when a file with the given extension is opened.
Change Default File Association To Executable Via Assoc
Detects when a program changes the default file association of any extension to an executable. When a file is opened, the default program used to open the file (also called the file association or handler) is checked. File association selections are stored in the Windows Registry and can be edited by users, administrators, or programs that have Registry access or by administrators using the built-in assoc utility. Applications can modify the file association for a given file extension to call an arbitrary program when a file with the given extension is opened.
Potential Privilege Escalation Using Symlink Between Osk and Cmd
Detects the creation of a symbolic link between "cmd.exe" and the accessibility on-screen keyboard binary (osk.exe) using "mklink". This technique provides an elevated command prompt to the user from the login screen without the need to log in.
Persistence Via Sticky Key Backdoor
By replacing the sticky keys executable with the local admins CMD executable, an attacker is able to access a privileged windows console session without authenticating to the system. When the sticky keys are "activated" the privilleged shell is launched.
Sticky Key Like Backdoor Execution
Detects the usage and installation of a backdoor that uses an option to register a malicious debugger for built-in tools that are accessible in the login screen
Control Panel Items
Detects the malicious use of a control panel item
New DMSA Service Account Created in Specific OUs
Detects the creation of a dMSASvc account using the New-ADServiceAccount cmdlet in certain OUs. The fact that the Cmdlet is used to create a dMSASvc account in a specific OU is highly suspicious. It is a pattern trying to exploit the BadSuccessor privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows Server 2025. On top of that, if the user that is creating the dMSASvc account is not a legitimate administrator or does not have the necessary permissions, it is a strong signal of an attempted or successful abuse of the BaDSuccessor vulnerability for privilege escalation within the Windows Server 2025 Active Directory environment.
Windows Credential Guard Registry Tampering Via CommandLine
Detects attempts to add, modify, or delete Windows Credential Guard related registry keys or values via command line tools such as Reg.exe or PowerShell. Credential Guard uses virtualization-based security to isolate secrets so that only privileged system software can access them. Adversaries may disable Credential Guard to gain access to sensitive credentials stored in the system, such as NTLM hashes and Kerberos tickets, which can be used for lateral movement and privilege escalation. The rule matches suspicious command lines that target DeviceGuard or LSA registry paths and manipulate keys like EnableVirtualizationBasedSecurity, RequirePlatformSecurityFeatures, or LsaCfgFlags. Such activity may indicate an attempt to disable or tamper with Credential Guard, potentially exposing sensitive credentials for misuse.
ManageEngine Endpoint Central Dctask64.EXE Potential Abuse
Detects the execution of "dctask64.exe", a signed binary by ZOHO Corporation part of ManageEngine Endpoint Central. This binary can be abused for DLL injection, arbitrary command and process execution.
Devcon Execution Disabling VMware VMCI Device
Detects execution of devcon.exe with commands that disable the VMware Virtual Machine Communication Interface (VMCI) device. This can be legitimate during VMware Tools troubleshooting or driver conflicts, but may also indicate malware attempting to hijack communication with the hardware via the VMCI device. This has been used to facilitate VMware ESXi vulnerability exploits to escape VMs and execute code on the ESXi host.
Potential DLL Sideloading Via DeviceEnroller.EXE
Detects the use of the PhoneDeepLink parameter to potentially sideload a DLL file that does not exist. This non-existent DLL file is named "ShellChromeAPI.dll". Adversaries can drop their own renamed DLL and execute it via DeviceEnroller.exe using this parameter
PowerShell Web Access Feature Enabled Via DISM
Detects the use of DISM to enable the PowerShell Web Access feature, which could be used for remote access and potential abuse
Dllhost.EXE Execution Anomaly
Detects a "dllhost" process spawning with no commandline arguments which is very rare to happen and could indicate process injection activity or malware mimicking similar system processes.
DLL Sideloading by VMware Xfer Utility
Detects execution of VMware Xfer utility (VMwareXferlogs.exe) from the non-default directory which may be an attempt to sideload arbitrary DLL
New DNS ServerLevelPluginDll Installed Via Dnscmd.EXE
Detects the installation of a DNS plugin DLL via ServerLevelPluginDll parameter in registry, which can be used to execute code in context of the DNS server (restart required)
Potentially Suspicious Event Viewer Child Process
Detects uncommon or suspicious child processes of "eventvwr.exe" which might indicate a UAC bypass attempt
Explorer NOUACCHECK Flag
Detects suspicious starts of explorer.exe that use the /NOUACCHECK flag that allows to run all sub processes of that newly started explorer.exe without any UAC checks
Permission Misconfiguration Reconnaissance Via Findstr.EXE
Detects usage of findstr with the "EVERYONE" or "BUILTIN" keywords. This was seen being used in combination with "icacls" and other utilities to spot misconfigured files or folders permissions.
Suspicious GUP Usage
Detects execution of the Notepad++ updater in a suspicious directory, which is often used in DLL side-loading attacks
HackTool - CoercedPotato Execution
Detects the use of CoercedPotato, a tool for privilege escalation
HackTool - CrackMapExec Execution
This rule detect common flag combinations used by CrackMapExec in order to detect its use even if the binary has been replaced.
HackTool - CrackMapExec Execution Patterns
Detects various execution patterns of the CrackMapExec pentesting framework
HackTool - DInjector PowerShell Cradle Execution
Detects the use of the Dinject PowerShell cradle based on the specific flags
HackTool - Empire PowerShell UAC Bypass
Detects some Empire PowerShell UAC bypass methods
HackTool - HollowReaper Execution
Detects usage of HollowReaper, a process hollowing shellcode launcher used for stealth payload execution through process hollowing. It replaces the memory of a legitimate process with custom shellcode, allowing the attacker to execute payloads under the guise of trusted binaries.
HackTool - Impersonate Execution
Detects execution of the Impersonate tool. Which can be used to manipulate tokens on a Windows computers remotely (PsExec/WmiExec) or interactively
HackTool - KrbRelayUp Execution
Detects KrbRelayUp used to perform a universal no-fix local privilege escalation in Windows domain environments where LDAP signing is not enforced
HackTool - LocalPotato Execution
Detects the execution of the LocalPotato POC based on basic PE metadata information and default CLI examples
Potential Meterpreter/CobaltStrike Activity
Detects the use of getsystem Meterpreter/Cobalt Strike command by detecting a specific service starting
HackTool - Default PowerSploit/Empire Scheduled Task Creation
Detects the creation of a schtask via PowerSploit or Empire Default Configuration.
Potential SMB Relay Attack Tool Execution
Detects different hacktools used for relay attacks on Windows for privilege escalation
HackTool - PPID Spoofing SelectMyParent Tool Execution
Detects the use of parent process ID spoofing tools like Didier Stevens tool SelectMyParent
HackTool - SharPersist Execution
Detects the execution of the hacktool SharPersist - used to deploy various different kinds of persistence mechanisms
HKTL - SharpSuccessor Privilege Escalation Tool Execution
Detects the execution of SharpSuccessor, a tool used to exploit the BadSuccessor attack for privilege escalation in WinServer 2025 Active Directory environments. Successful usage of this tool can let the attackers gain the domain admin privileges by exploiting the BadSuccessor vulnerability.
HackTool - SharpUp PrivEsc Tool Execution
Detects the use of SharpUp, a tool for local privilege escalation
HackTool - SharpDPAPI Execution
Detects the execution of the SharpDPAPI tool based on CommandLine flags and PE metadata. SharpDPAPI is a C# port of some DPAPI functionality from the Mimikatz project.
HackTool - SharpImpersonation Execution
Detects execution of the SharpImpersonation tool. Which can be used to manipulate tokens on a Windows computers remotely (PsExec/WmiExec) or interactively
HackTool - SysmonEOP Execution
Detects the execution of the PoC that can be used to exploit Sysmon CVE-2022-41120
HackTool - UACMe Akagi Execution
Detects the execution of UACMe, a tool used for UAC bypasses, via default PE metadata
HackTool - winPEAS Execution
WinPEAS is a script that search for possible paths to escalate privileges on Windows hosts. The checks are explained on book.hacktricks.xyz
HackTool - WinPwn Execution
Detects commandline keywords indicative of potential usge of the tool WinPwn. A tool for Windows and Active Directory reconnaissance and exploitation.
Suspicious Shells Spawn by Java Utility Keytool
Detects suspicious shell spawn from Java utility keytool process (e.g. adselfservice plus exploitation)
Suspicious Processes Spawned by Java.EXE
Detects suspicious processes spawned from a Java host process which could indicate a sign of exploitation (e.g. log4j)