Possible New Service Creation Via Sc.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Possible New Service Creation Via Sc.EXE (via process_creation)
id: e8e1a823-11fd-5e49-a7b2-3f5c670521c4
status: stable
description: This rule detects the creation of a new service using the "sc.exe" utility.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1543.003/T1543.003.md
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-04-25
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1543.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\sc.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'create'
            - 'binPath'
    filter_optional_dropbox:
        ParentImage|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Dropbox\Client\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Dropbox\Client\'
        ParentImage|endswith: '\Dropbox.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: low