Windows ComputerDefaults Spawning a Process
The following analytic detects the spawning of ComputerDefaults.exe, a Windows system process used to manage default application associations. While normally legitimate, this process can be exploited by attackers to…
Description
The following analytic detects the spawning of ComputerDefaults.exe, a Windows system process used to manage default application associations. While normally legitimate, this process can be exploited by attackers to bypass User Account Control (UAC) and execute unauthorized code with elevated privileges. Detection focuses on abnormal execution patterns, unusual parent-child process relationships, or deviations from standard paths. Such behavior may indicate attempts to modify system defaults or run malicious scripts undetected. Monitoring ComputerDefaults.exe is critical to identify potential security threats, prevent privilege escalation, and maintain system integrity by distinguishing normal operations from suspicious activity.
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
- sysmon_eventid_1
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 |
|---|---|
| www.recordedfuture.com/research/from-castleloader-to-castlerat-tag-150-advances-operations | 3 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 697eb4c0-1008-4c3c-b5ae-7bd9b39adbd6
- Tagged by the source as
- BlankGrabber StealerCastle RATEndpointendpointSplunk 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
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1