Windows: Local user creation via net.exe with expires:never

Flags net.exe user add commands that set expires:never for local account persistence.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-07-12
Updated: 2026-07-30

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 identifies creation of local accounts using net.exe (net.exe or net1.exe) when the command line includes the user/add parameters and the option expires:never. Attackers may use this to create persistent accounts that do not expire. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executing image name and command-line contents.

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 creation via net.exe with expires:never

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-creation-via-net-exe-with-expires-never-b9f0e6f5

title: "Windows: Local user creation via net.exe with expires:never"
id: a72424a6-c674-4858-beae-19d43229d097
related:
  - id: cd219ff3-fa99-45d4-8380-a7d15116c6dc
    type: derived
  - id: b9f0e6f5-09b4-4358-bae4-08408705bd5c
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies creation of local accounts using net.exe (net.exe or net1.exe) when the command line includes the user/add parameters and the option expires:never. Attackers may use this to create persistent accounts that do not expire. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executing image name and command-line contents.
references:
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/07/11/select-xmrig-from-sqlserver/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_net_user_add_never_expire.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-07-12
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
      - expires:never
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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