Windows IIS WebServer Access Log Files Deleted

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1070Indicator Removal
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

Identifies deletion of IIS web server access log files under the standard inetpub log directory, matching files ending in .log. Attackers may remove these logs to hinder forensic investigation and reduce available evidence of web activity. Detection relies on Windows file deletion telemetry for the affected target filenames.

Reporting behind it

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Windows IIS WebServer Access Log Files Deleted

Pivot detection · T1070 · 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-webserver-access-log-files-deleted-3eb8c339

title: Windows IIS WebServer Access Log Files Deleted
id: 1ebe3f4d-e47e-4217-bd19-0c5c90c0861a
related:
  - id: 0649be4a-aeb0-45b0-b89e-7f1668f6d9c0
    type: similar
  - id: 3eb8c339-a765-48cc-a150-4364c04652bf
    type: derived
status: test
description: Identifies deletion of IIS web server access log files under the standard inetpub log directory, matching files ending in .log. Attackers may remove these logs to hinder forensic investigation and reduce available evidence of web activity. Detection relies on Windows file deletion telemetry for the affected target filenames.
references:
  - https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/webserver-access-logs-deleted.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_delete/file_delete_win_delete_iis_access_logs.yml
author: Tim Rauch (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-09-16
modified: 2023-02-15
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1070
logsource:
  category: file_delete
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetFilename|contains: \inetpub\logs\LogFiles\
    TargetFilename|endswith: .log
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - During uninstallation of the IIS service
  - During log rotation
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

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