Windows: Local user account creation via net.exe or net1.exe

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1136.001Local Account
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process executions where net.exe or net1.exe is launched with command-line arguments containing both "user" and "add", indicating local user creation attempts. Attackers may use this technique to establish persistence by adding new accounts. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including the image path and command line content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1136.001 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious Local Account Creation of Support or Whiteninja via net.exe

Malicious Dynamicweb Unauthenticated Administrator Creation via Setup Default.aspx (via webserver)

Suspicious Hidden Backdoor Account Creation Ending With Dollar Sign (via process_creation)

Malicious User Creation via Commandline (via process_creation)

Suspicious Local Account Creation and Privileged Group Addition via Net.EXE (via process_creation)

Suspicious Hidden Local Account Creation via Dscl (via process_creation)

Suspicious Local Account Creation on Linux (via process_creation)

Windows: Local user account creation via net.exe or net1.exe

Pivot detection · T1136.001 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

windows-local-user-account-creation-via-net-exe-or-net1-exe-cd219ff3

title: "Windows: Local user account creation via net.exe or net1.exe"
id: 7b6cb08c-0bca-4835-a9f4-fa0286cdc78b
related:
  - id: b9f0e6f5-09b4-4358-bae4-08408705bd5c
    type: similar
  - id: cd219ff3-fa99-45d4-8380-a7d15116c6dc
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags process executions where net.exe or net1.exe is launched with command-line arguments containing both "user" and "add", indicating local user creation attempts. Attackers may use this technique to establish persistence by adding new accounts. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including the image path and command line content.
references:
  - https://eqllib.readthedocs.io/en/latest/analytics/014c3f51-89c6-40f1-ac9c-5688f26090ab.html
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1136.001/T1136.001.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_net_user_add.yml
author: Endgame, JHasenbusch (adapted to Sigma for oscd.community), Huntrule Team
date: 2018-10-30
modified: 2023-02-21
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.t1136.001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith:
        - \net.exe
        - \net1.exe
    - OriginalFileName:
        - net.exe
        - net1.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - user
      - add
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate user creation.
  - Better use event IDs for user creation rather than command line rules.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

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