huntrule

Windows Command-Line Disables Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) Snapshots

Flags Windows command lines that disable Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) snapshots via VSS Diag service switches.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-01-28
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies Windows process executions whose command line references the VSS diagnostics service and includes the switch to disable snapshots. Attackers may impair backup and recovery capabilities by turning off Volume Shadow Copy, reducing defenders’ ability to restore data. The detection relies on process creation telemetry and matches specific command-line substrings indicating the targeted VSS component and the disable action.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Windows Defender Exclusion via Add-MpPreference (via process_creation)
Malicious Windows Defender Service Tampering via PowerShell (via process_creation)
Windows Defender Disabled via DisableAntiSpyware Registry Key
Suspicious Vulnerable Intel Ethernet Driver Load for BYOVD via SCATTERED SPIDER (via driver_load)
Malicious Defender Disable And Executable Exclusion Via Registry
Malicious UAC Disable via EnableLUA Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Malicious AMSI and ETW Patching via PowerShell Script
Malicious PowMix AMSI Bypass via amsiInitFailed
Suspicious ThrottleStop Driver Abuse for Defense Evasion in Ransomware Attacks
Windows Command-Line Disables Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) Snapshots
Pivot detection · T1685 · 9 related

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