huntrule

Windows MSI Exec Creates elevation_service.exe Under Edge Path (CVE-2021-41379)

Flags msiexec creating elevation_service.exe within the Microsoft Edge application directory, indicating potential LPE exploitation.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v5
Product
windows
Category
file_event
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-11-22
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc

  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 flags file creation activity where an msiexec.exe process targets an Edge application directory and creates an elevation_service.exe file. Such behavior is consistent with exploiting the InstallerFileTakeOver LPE scenario tied to CVE-2021-41379, where elevated file placement enables privilege escalation. It relies on Windows file event telemetry that includes the creating process path (msiexec.exe) and the created file path (elevation_service.exe) under the specified Edge directory.

Reporting behind it

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Windows MSI Exec Creates elevation_service.exe Under Edge Path (CVE-2021-41379)
Pivot detection · T1068 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. 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.