Windows LiveKD Driver File Creation by Uncommon Process Image
Alerts when LiveKdD.SYS is created by a process other than livekd.exe/livek64.exe on Windows.
FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
- Product
- windows
- Category
- file_event
- Author
- Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-05-16
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
What it detects
Flags creation of the LiveKdD.SYS driver file when it is created by a process whose image path does not end with livekd.exe or livek64.exe. Attackers may abuse LiveKD components or mimic their behavior to place a driver for stealthy access or privileged manipulation. The rule relies on Windows file event telemetry capturing the target driver path and the creating process image.
Reporting behind it
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.
windows-livekd-driver-file-created-by-non-livekd-executable-059c5af9
title: Windows LiveKD Driver File Creation by Uncommon Process Image
id: 99e05e16-9859-484c-868b-11d269ace071
related:
- id: 16fe46bb-4f64-46aa-817d-ff7bec4a2352
type: similar
- id: 059c5af9-5131-4d8d-92b2-de4ad6146712
type: derived
status: test
description: Flags creation of the LiveKdD.SYS driver file when it is created by a process whose image path does not end with livekd.exe or livek64.exe. Attackers may abuse LiveKD components or mimic their behavior to place a driver for stealthy access or privileged manipulation. The rule relies on Windows file event telemetry capturing the target driver path and the creating process image.
references:
- Internal Research
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_sysinternals_livekd_driver_susp_creation.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-05-16
tags:
- attack.privilege-escalation
- attack.stealth
logsource:
product: windows
category: file_event
detection:
selection:
TargetFilename: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\LiveKdD.SYS
filter_main_legit_name:
Image|endswith:
- \livekd.exe
- \livek64.exe
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
- Administrators might rename LiveKD before its usage which could trigger this. Add additional names you use to the filter
level: high
license: DRL-1.1