Suspicious Service StartupType Change Through PowerShell Set-Service (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Service StartupType Change Through PowerShell Set-Service (via process_creation)
id: fd9dc9d3-5234-5a80-8e77-2881b1b80328
status: stable
description: This rule detects the use of the PowerShell "Set-Service" cmdlet to change the startup type of a service to "disabled" or "manual"
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1685/
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/38283b775552da8981452941ea74191aa0d203edd3f61fb2dee7b0aea3514955
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-13
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1685
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\powershell.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'PowerShell.EXE'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'Set-Service'
            - '-StartupType'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'Disabled'
            - 'Manual'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium