Malicious Security Event Log Disabled via wevtutil

ATT&CK techniques

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

What it detects

This rule detects wevtutil disabling the Security event log channel, a logging impairment used by FunkSec ransomware to hide its actions. Disabling the Security log blinds defenders to subsequent malicious activity. Detecting the command surfaces anti forensic behavior on the host.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685.005 — drag to rearrange

Windows Process Activity Clearing or Modifying Event Logs via Wevtutil, PowerShell, or WMI

Suspicious Event Log Clearing via Wevtutil (via process_creation)

Suspicious Mass Windows Event Log Clearing via PowerShell (via ps_script)

Malicious Event Log Clear Attempt - Wmi (via process_creation)

Malicious SQL Server Auditing Deactivated (via application)

Malicious Event Log Clear Attempt - Command (via process_creation)

Malicious Event Log Deactivation or Size Reduction - Command (via process_creation)

Malicious Audit Policy Disabled by Command Line (via process_creation)

Malicious Event Log Cleared Using Diagnostics - Via PowerShell (via powershell)

Malicious Security Event Log Disabled via wevtutil

Pivot detection · T1685.005 · 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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