Service Path Modification

Elastic Stack Serverless Security

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-*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 60m

Searches indices from: now-119m (https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/common-options.html#date-math[Date Math format], see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References: None

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: 105

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&CKTM

• 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/

• 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/

• 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/