Windows Error Report Created in ReportQueue Manually
The following analytic detects a .wer file being written into the Windows Error Reporting ReportQueue directory by a process other than the standard error-reporting binaries. Windows Error Reporting normally…
Description
The following analytic detects a .wer file being written into the Windows Error Reporting ReportQueue directory by a process other than the standard error-reporting binaries. Windows Error Reporting normally populates ReportQueue only through werfault.exe, werfaultsecure.exe, or wermgr.exe following an actual application crash. In the ShieldBreak exploit, the attacker fabricates a .wer report directly and manually invokes the QueueReporting scheduled task, which causes wermgr.exe to process the report and load an attacker-planted phantom DLL at SYSTEM integrity. If confirmed malicious, this activity indicates preparation for a local privilege escalation attempt abusing Windows Error Reporting.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersLinuxmacOSWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- sysmon_eventid_11
Known benign triggers
- Crash-reporting or telemetry agents that integrate with Windows Error Reporting may stage .wer files outside the standard WER binaries. Tune by Image as necessary for your environment.
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 |
|---|---|
| isc.sans.edu/diary/22536 | 2 |
| www.cyderes.com/howler-cell/rogueplanet-windows-zero-day | 7 |
| www.threatlocker.com/blog/nightmareeclipse-releases-new-poc-shieldbreak-exploits-same-weakness-as-rogueplanet | 6 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- c3b33d42-dd28-41bc-8abd-407654a5c9bc
- Tagged by the source as
- RoguePlanetWindows Error Reporting Service Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityWindows Privilege EscalationEndpointendpointSplunk 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