Suspicious User Added To Admin Group Through Dscl (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious User Added To Admin Group Through Dscl (via process_creation)
id: d38d39ff-80d9-5a7e-a9e9-5bf1bfc880c4
status: stable
description: This rule detects attempts to create and add an account to the admin group via "dscl"
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078/003/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1078.003/T1078.003.md#atomic-test-2---create-local-account-with-admin-privileges---macos
    - https://ss64.com/osx/dscl.html
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-04-10
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1078.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: macos
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '/dscl'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' -append '
            - ' /Groups/admin '
            - ' GroupMembership '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium