BitLocker Feature Installation via ServerManagerCmd or PowerShell (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
- T1486Data Encrypted for Impact

What it detects

This rule detects on-demand installation of the BitLocker Windows feature through ServerManagerCmd or Install-WindowsFeature, the enabling step ShrinkLocker performs on systems where BitLocker is absent before hijacking it to encrypt drives. Adversaries leverage the native BitLocker feature to lock victim data without dropping a custom encryptor, so this behavior warrants review on hosts where BitLocker deployment is unexpected.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1486 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious CACTUS Ransomware Note and Encrypted File Artifacts (via file_event)

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BitLocker Feature Installation via ServerManagerCmd or PowerShell (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1486 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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