Suspicious Kernel Mode Service Creation via SC

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1543.003Windows Service
Priv Esc
- T1543.003Windows Service
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of a kernel-mode service using sc with a kernel type flag, the mechanism used to load a driver during the ReadText34 ransomware incident as part of a bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver attack. Registering a kernel service outside of software installation is anomalous. Attackers exploit this to load vulnerable drivers that disable endpoint protection.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1543.003 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious PSexec Service Installation (via security)

Suspicious Impact of 'SMOKEDHAM Backdoor' with MSDTC Service Privilege Escalation via Command Line (via process_creation)

Suspicious Kernel Mode Service Creation via SC

Pivot detection · T1543.003 · 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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