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

title: Suspicious User Added To Admin Group Through Sysadminctl (via process_creation)
id: 1afdf9fb-76e5-544d-94fb-6981fb3326a5
status: stable
description: This rule detects attempts to create and add an account to the admin group via "sysadminctl"
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-3---create-local-account-with-admin-privileges-using-sysadminctl-utility---macos
    - https://ss64.com/osx/sysadminctl.html
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-22
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1078.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: macos
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '/sysadminctl'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' -addUser '
            - ' -admin '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium