WMI Temporary Event Subscription

name: WMI Temporary Event Subscription
id: 38cbd42c-1098-41bb-99cf-9d6d2b296d83
version: 10
creation_date: '2020-04-29'
modification_date: '2026-05-13'
author: Rico Valdez, Splunk
status: experimental
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects the creation of WMI temporary event subscriptions. It leverages Windows Event Logs, specifically EventCode 5860, to identify these activities. This detection is significant because attackers often use WMI to execute commands, gather information, or maintain persistence within a compromised system. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or persist in the environment. Analysts should review the specific WMI queries and assess their intent, considering potential false positives from legitimate administrative tasks.
data_source: []
search: |-
    `wmi`
    EventCode=5860
    Temporary
    | rex field=Message "NotificationQuery =\s+(?<query>[^;|^$]+)"
    | search
        query!="FROM Win32_ProcessStartTrace WHERE ProcessName = 'wsmprovhost.exe'"
        AND
        query!="FROM __InstanceOperationEvent WHERE TargetInstance ISA 'AntiVirusProduct' OR TargetInstance ISA 'FirewallProduct' OR TargetInstance ISA 'AntiSpywareProduct'"
    | stats count min(_time) as firstTime
                  max(_time) as lastTime
      by ComputerName, query
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `wmi_temporary_event_subscription_filter`
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you must be ingesting the Windows WMI activity logs. This can be done by adding a stanza to inputs.conf on the system generating logs with a title of [WinEventLog://Microsoft-Windows-WMI-Activity/Operational].
known_false_positives: Some software may create WMI temporary event subscriptions for various purposes. The included search contains an exception for two of these that occur by default on Windows 10 systems. You may need to modify the search to create exceptions for other legitimate events.
references: []
finding:
    title: WMI Temporary event subscription detected on $dest$
    entity:
        field: dest
        type: system
        score: 50
analytic_story:
    - Suspicious WMI Use
asset_type: Endpoint
mitre_attack_id:
    - T1047
product:
    - Splunk Enterprise
    - Splunk Enterprise Security
    - Splunk Cloud
category: endpoint
security_domain: endpoint