Print Spooler Adding A Printer Driver
The following analytic detects the addition of new printer drivers by monitoring Windows PrintService operational logs, specifically EventCode 316. This detection leverages log data to identify messages indicating…
Description
The following analytic detects the addition of new printer drivers by monitoring Windows PrintService operational logs, specifically EventCode 316. This detection leverages log data to identify messages indicating the addition or update of printer drivers, such as "kernelbase.dll" and "UNIDRV.DLL." This activity is significant as it may indicate exploitation attempts related to vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-34527 (PrintNightmare). If confirmed malicious, attackers could gain code execution or escalate privileges, potentially compromising the affected system. Immediate isolation and investigation of the endpoint are recommended.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- Windows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- windows_event_log_printservice_316
Known benign triggers
- No false positives have been identified at this time.
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 |
|---|---|
| twitter.com/MalwareJake/status/1410421445608476679?s=20 | Only this detection cites it |
| www.reddit.com/r/msp/comments/ob6y02/critical_vulnerability_printnightmare_exposes | 6 |
| www.truesec.com/hub/blog/exploitable-critical-rce-vulnerability-allows-regular-users-to-fully-compromise-active-directory-printnightmare-cve-2021-1675 | 6 |
| www.truesec.com/hub/blog/fix-for-printnightmare-cve-2021-1675-exploit-to-keep-your-print-servers-running-while-a-patch-is-not-available | 6 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 313681a2-da8e-11eb-adad-acde48001122
- Tagged by the source as
- Black Basta RansomwarePrintNightmare CVE-2021-34527EndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1