Suspicious NSSM Service Installation via process_creation

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Impact

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
- T1496Resource Hijacking

What it detects

This rule detects the Non-Sucking Service Manager nssm.exe being used with the install argument to register an arbitrary program as a Windows service. Head Mare and Twelve used nssm to install persistence for masqueraded tunneling tools such as rclone and gost. Because nssm is not a default Windows binary its use to install services is a strong persistence signal.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious NSSM Service Installation via process_creation

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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