Service Path Modification via sc.exe

Status: production
Kind: building block (feeds higher-level correlation rules; not a standalone alert)
Severity: low
Time window: 119m
Author: Elastic
Source: github.com/elastic/detection-rules

Identifies attempts to modify a service path setting using sc.exe. Attackers may attempt to modify existing services for persistence or privilege escalation.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

Tactic	Techniques
Persistence	`T1112` Modify Registry `T1543.003` Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
Privilege Escalation	`T1543.003` Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service

Rule body

[metadata]
creation_date = "2023/08/29"
integration = ["endpoint", "windows", "system"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2025/03/20"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
building_block_type = "default"
description = """
Identifies attempts to modify a service path setting using sc.exe. Attackers may attempt to modify existing services for
persistence or privilege escalation.
"""
from = "now-119m"
index = [
    "endgame-*",
    "logs-endpoint.events.process-*",
    "logs-system.security*",
    "logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*",
    "winlogbeat-*",
]
interval = "60m"
language = "eql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Service Path Modification via sc.exe"
risk_score = 21
rule_id = "c5677997-f75b-4cda-b830-a75920514096"
severity = "low"
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",
    "Data Source: Windows Security Event Logs",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "eql"

query = '''
process where event.type == "start" and process.name : "sc.exe" and
  process.args : "*config*" and process.args : "*binPath*"
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1112"
name = "Modify Registry"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112/"


[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"
[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1543"
name = "Create or Modify System Process"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/"
[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1543.003"
name = "Windows Service"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/"



[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0003"
name = "Persistence"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/"
[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1543"
name = "Create or Modify System Process"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/"
[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1543.003"
name = "Windows Service"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/"



[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0004"
name = "Privilege Escalation"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/"

Stages and Predicates

Stage 1: `process`

process where event.type == "start" and process.name : "sc.exe" and
  process.args : "*config*" and process.args : "*binPath*"

Indicators

These rows show field, operator, and value matches.