Suspicious Logged-On User Password Change Through Ksetup.EXE (via process_creation)

This rule detects password change for the logged-on user's via "ksetup.exe"

SigmamediumWindowsv1
sigma
title: Suspicious Logged-On User Password Change Through Ksetup.EXE (via process_creation)
id: 7f18d192-0de4-55ef-b490-eae3b0affb45
status: stable
description: This rule detects password change for the logged-on user's via "ksetup.exe"
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/ksetup
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-13
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1098
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\ksetup.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'ksetup.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: ' /ChangePassword '
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Known false positives

  • Unknown

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