Windows New Service Security Descriptor Set Via Sc.EXE
The following analytic detects changes in a service security descriptor. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, specifically searching for any process execution involving the "sc.exe"…
Description
The following analytic detects changes in a service security descriptor. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, specifically searching for any process execution involving the "sc.exe" binary with the "sdset" flag targeting any service. This behavior can be legitimate, such as when a user or administrator is configuring a service's security settings. Investigate appropariate services to determine if the behavior is malicious. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to escalate their privileges, blind defenses and more.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ESXiLinuxmacOSOffice SuiteWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- crowdstrike_processrollup2sysmon_eventid_1windows_event_log_security_4688
Known benign triggers
- - False positives are expected from legitimate system administrator scripts or installation utilities. Filter known parent image and commandline combinations.
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/T1564/ | 2 |
| news.sophos.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/glupteba_final-1.pdf | 2 |
| www.sans.org/blog/red-team-tactics-hiding-windows-services/ | 7from 3 sources |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- cde00c31-042a-4307-bf70-25e471da56e9
- Tagged by the source as
- Defense Evasion or Unauthorized Access Via SDDL TamperingEndpointendpointSplunk 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