Suspicious Local Account Creation via Net User
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-06-04
- Updated
- 2026-08-28
ATT&CK techniques
PersistenceRecon
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 local account creation using the net user add command which the REF0657 actors used to add a helpdesk account through a malicious service for persistent access. Interactive account creation may be legitimate for administrators so this activity should be corroborated with the creating context.
Reporting behind it
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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