Windows DISM Online Disable-Feature via DismHost.exe or Dism.exe
Flags Windows DISM/DismHost executions using /Online and /Disable-Feature, a common defense-impairment technique.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-01-16
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
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 process creation events where DISM is run in online servicing mode with a disable-feature action, either through DismHost.exe or Dism.exe. Attackers may use DISM to impair host security controls by removing or disabling Windows features without needing offline image access. Telemetry required includes Windows process creation logs capturing process image paths and command-line arguments containing the /Online and /Disable-Feature parameters.
Reporting behind it
- github.comhttps://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1562.001/T1562.001.md#atomic-test-26---disable-windows-defender-with-dism
- trendmicro.comhttps://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/22/h/ransomware-actor-abuses-genshin-impact-anti-cheat-driver-to-kill-antivirus.html
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_dism_remove.yml
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: Windows DISM Online Disable-Feature via DismHost.exe or Dism.exe
id: f42949c5-c590-4d63-9325-218b4f7a5306
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation events where DISM is run in online servicing mode with a disable-feature action, either through DismHost.exe or Dism.exe. Attackers may use DISM to impair host security controls by removing or disabling Windows features without needing offline image access. Telemetry required includes Windows process creation logs capturing process image paths and command-line arguments containing the /Online and /Disable-Feature parameters.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1562.001/T1562.001.md#atomic-test-26---disable-windows-defender-with-dism
- https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/22/h/ransomware-actor-abuses-genshin-impact-anti-cheat-driver-to-kill-antivirus.html
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_dism_remove.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-01-16
modified: 2022-08-26
tags:
- attack.defense-impairment
- attack.t1685
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_dismhost:
Image|endswith: \DismHost.exe
ParentCommandLine|contains|all:
- /Online
- /Disable-Feature
selection_dism:
Image|endswith: \Dism.exe
CommandLine|contains|all:
- /Online
- /Disable-Feature
condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Legitimate script
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_dism_remove/info.yml
simulation:
- type: atomic-red-team
name: Disable Windows Defender with DISM
technique: T1562.001
atomic_guid: 871438ac-7d6e-432a-b27d-3e7db69faf58
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 43e32da2-fdd0-4156-90de-50dfd62636f9
type: derived