Windows ScManager Security Descriptor Tampering Via Sc.EXE
The following analytic detects changes in the ScManager service security descriptor settings. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, specifically searching for any process execution…
Description
The following analytic detects changes in the ScManager service security descriptor settings. 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 the "scmanager" service. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to escalate their privileges.
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
- crowdstrike_processrollup2sysmon_eventid_1windows_event_log_security_4688
Known benign triggers
- No false positives have been identified at this time. descriptor settings of the scmanager service should be immediately investigated and understood.
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 |
|---|---|
| 0xv1n.github.io/posts/scmanager/ | Only this detection cites it |
| attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1569/002/ | 2 |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/388942adbd9641f4dfdcf079d7efe9a75ec0ac43/atomics/T1569.002/T1569.002.yaml#L208 | 3 |
| github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/8ac5c4f84692b11ea2832d18d3dc6f1ce7fb4e41/atomics/T1569.002/T1569.002.md#atomic-test-7---modifying-acl-of-service-control-manager-via-sdet | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 04023928-0381-4935-82cb-03372b2ef644
- 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
- Oct 13, 2026
- Version
- 2