Windows: AppCmd disables IIS HTTP logging via dontLog=true

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What it detects

This rule flags process executions of appcmd.exe where the command sets the IIS HTTP logging section to dontLog:true. Disabling HTTP logging reduces available web request telemetry, which attackers may use to impair detection and hide activity. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing Image and CommandLine content for appcmd.exe.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685.001 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Security Event Log Disabled via wevtutil

Malicious SQL Server Auditing Deactivated (via application)

Malicious Event Log Deactivation or Size Reduction - Command (via process_creation)

Malicious Audit Policy Disabled by Command Line (via process_creation)

Suspicious IIS Logging Disabled via appcmd

Malicious SQL Server Database Auditing Deactivated (via application)

Malicious Audit Policy Disabled by Command Line (via security)

Malicious Event Log Tampering via wevtutil Channel Disable by FunkSec Ransomware (via process_creation)

OCSP Responder Auditing Settings Changed or Disabled (via security)

Windows: AppCmd disables IIS HTTP logging via dontLog=true

Pivot detection · T1685.001 · 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-iis-http-logging-disabled-via-appcmd-exe-e4ed6030

title: "Windows: AppCmd disables IIS HTTP logging via dontLog=true"
id: 93a103b1-9c27-4db2-8458-62a89e960abe
status: test
description: This rule flags process executions of appcmd.exe where the command sets the IIS HTTP logging section to dontLog:true. Disabling HTTP logging reduces available web request telemetry, which attackers may use to impair detection and hide activity. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing Image and CommandLine content for appcmd.exe.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1562.002/T1562.002.md#atomic-test-1---disable-windows-iis-http-logging
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_iis_appcmd_http_logging.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-01-09
modified: 2023-01-22
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685.001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \appcmd.exe
    - OriginalFileName: appcmd.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - set
      - config
      - section:httplogging
      - dontLog:true
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: e4ed6030-ffe5-4e6a-8a8a-ab3c1ab9d94e
    type: derived

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