UAC Bypass via DiskCleanup Scheduled Task Hijack

Identifies User Account Control (UAC) bypass via hijacking DiskCleanup Scheduled Task. Attackers bypass UAC to stealthily execute code with elevated permissions.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

• winlogbeat-*
• logs-endpoint.events.*
• logs-windows.*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5m

Searches indices from: now-9m (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:

• Elastic
• Host
• Windows
• Threat Detection
• Privilege Escalation

Version: 6

Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

process where event.type == "start" and
 process.args : "/autoclean" and process.args : "/d" and
 not process.executable : ("C:\\Windows\\System32\\cleanmgr.exe",
                           "C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64\\cleanmgr.exe",
                           "C:\\Windows\\System32\\taskhostw.exe")

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

• Tactic:

  • Name: Privilege Escalation
  • ID: TA0004
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/

• Technique:

  • Name: Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism
  • ID: T1548
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1548/

• Sub-technique:

  • Name: Bypass User Account Control
  • ID: T1548.002
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1548/002/