Windows Process Creation: logman.exe Used to Stop or Delete ETW Trace Sessions

ATT&CK techniques

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags execution of logman.exe where the command line includes stop and delete actions targeting Windows trace sessions. Attackers can use trace tampering to impair or remove telemetry visibility by disabling ETW log collection. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the logman executable and specific command-line strings referencing trace session types and names.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange

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Windows Process Creation: logman.exe Used to Stop or Delete ETW Trace Sessions

Pivot detection · T1685 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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

windows-detect-logman-exe-commands-stopping-or-deleting-trace-etw-sessions-cd1f961e

title: "Windows Process Creation: logman.exe Used to Stop or Delete ETW Trace Sessions"
id: 1d75c0a2-d51a-4e4f-a5cb-c8f6b2e62534
status: test
description: This rule flags execution of logman.exe where the command line includes stop and delete actions targeting Windows trace sessions. Attackers can use trace tampering to impair or remove telemetry visibility by disabling ETW log collection. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the logman executable and specific command-line strings referencing trace session types and names.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/0gtweet/status/1359039665232306183?s=21
  - https://ss64.com/nt/logman.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_logman_disable_eventlog.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-02-11
modified: 2023-02-21
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685
  - attack.t1685.005
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \logman.exe
    - OriginalFileName: Logman.exe
  selection_action:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - "stop "
      - "delete "
  selection_service:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - Circular Kernel Context Logger
      - EventLog-
      - SYSMON TRACE
      - SysmonDnsEtwSession
  condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate deactivation by administrative staff
  - Installer tools that disable services, e.g. before log collection agent installation
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: cd1f961e-0b96-436b-b7c6-38da4583ec00
    type: derived

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