FodHelper UAC Bypass
The following analytic detects the execution of fodhelper.exe, which is known to exploit a User Account Control (UAC) bypass by leveraging specific registry keys. The detection method uses Endpoint Detection and…
Description
The following analytic detects the execution of fodhelper.exe, which is known to exploit a User Account Control (UAC) bypass by leveraging specific registry keys. The detection method uses Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) telemetry to identify when fodhelper.exe spawns a child process and accesses the registry keys. This activity is significant because it indicates a potential privilege escalation attempt by an attacker. If confirmed malicious, the attacker could execute commands with elevated privileges, leading to unauthorized system changes and potential full system compromise.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- crowdstrike_processrollup2sysmon_eventid_1windows_event_log_security_4688
Known benign triggers
- Limited to no false positives are expected.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1548/002/ | 4 |
| blog.malwarebytes.com/malwarebytes-news/2021/02/lazyscripter-from-empire-to-double-rat/ | 11from 2 sources |
| github.com/gushmazuko/WinBypass/blob/master/FodhelperBypass.ps1 | Only this detection cites it |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1548.002/T1548.002.yaml#L44 | 3 |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1548.002/T1548.002.yaml#L64 | 3 |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1548.002/T1548.002.md | 2 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 909f8fd8-7ac8-11eb-a1f3-acde48001122
- Tagged by the source as
- BlankGrabber StealerCompromised Windows HostIcedIDValleyRATWindows Defense Evasion TacticsEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
- Version
- 2