Windows Process Creation: SharpEvtMute Execution (Event Log Tampering)

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What it detects

This rule flags execution of SharpEvtMute, a Windows utility associated with tampering with event logs. Attackers may use it to impair visibility by altering or suppressing Windows event records. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the SharpEvtMute executable name, a related description string, and command-line arguments that include specific filter parameters and encoded options.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685.001 — drag to rearrange

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Windows Process Creation: SharpEvtMute Execution (Event Log Tampering)

Pivot detection · T1685.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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

sharpevtmute-execution-via-process-creation-on-windows-bedfc8ad

title: "Windows Process Creation: SharpEvtMute Execution (Event Log Tampering)"
id: bf508c52-5672-4f45-b2ea-f720c881f019
related:
  - id: 49329257-089d-46e6-af37-4afce4290685
    type: similar
  - id: bedfc8ad-d1c7-4e37-a20e-e2b0dbee759c
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags execution of SharpEvtMute, a Windows utility associated with tampering with event logs. Attackers may use it to impair visibility by altering or suppressing Windows event records. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the SharpEvtMute executable name, a related description string, and command-line arguments that include specific filter parameters and encoded options.
references:
  - https://github.com/bats3c/EvtMute
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_hktl_sharpevtmute.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-09-07
modified: 2023-02-14
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection:
    - Image|endswith: \SharpEvtMute.exe
    - Description: SharpEvtMute
    - CommandLine|contains:
        - '--Filter "rule '
        - --Encoded --Filter \"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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