Windows UAC Bypass via msconfig Token Modification Dropping pkgmgr.exe from Temp

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Defense Evasion
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies file creation events where a target path under a user profile ends with \AppData\Local\Temp\pkgmgr.exe. Attackers may use this behavior to stage components associated with a UAC bypass technique that relies on modifying a msconfig-related token flow. Detection depends on file event telemetry that includes the full target filename/path for process-related file writes.

Reporting behind it

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Windows UAC Bypass via msconfig Token Modification Dropping pkgmgr.exe from Temp

Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 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-file-write-to-temp-pkgmgr-exe-via-msconfig-token-modification-uac-bypass-41bb431f

title: Windows UAC Bypass via msconfig Token Modification Dropping pkgmgr.exe from Temp
id: 4005391b-a67b-45c3-ae21-aa15ae09ba38
status: test
description: This rule identifies file creation events where a target path under a user profile ends with \AppData\Local\Temp\pkgmgr.exe. Attackers may use this behavior to stage components associated with a UAC bypass technique that relies on modifying a msconfig-related token flow. Detection depends on file event telemetry that includes the full target filename/path for process-related file writes.
references:
  - https://github.com/hfiref0x/UACME
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_uac_bypass_msconfig_gui.yml
author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-30
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
  category: file_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetFilename|startswith: C:\Users\
    TargetFilename|endswith: \AppData\Local\Temp\pkgmgr.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 41bb431f-56d8-4691-bb56-ed34e390906f
    type: derived

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