Windows: net.exe used to start a service with the start flag

Identifies Windows processes using net.exe/net1.exe with ' start ' to start services.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v1

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Timur Zinniatullin, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2019-10-21
Updated: 2026-07-30

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1569.002Service Execution
Persistence
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 invoked with a command line containing the start keyword followed by a space, indicating a service start operation. Attackers often use built-in command utilities like net.exe to execute service-related actions without writing custom tooling. It relies on process creation telemetry, matching the executable name/path and the presence of the ' start ' token in the command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: net.exe used to start a service with the start flag

Pivot detection · T1569.002 · 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-net-exe-used-to-start-a-service-with-the-start-flag-2a072a96

title: "Windows: net.exe used to start a service with the start flag"
id: 8d3b7347-e66b-45f7-803c-7f688beef6d4
status: test
description: This rule flags process executions where net.exe or net1.exe is invoked with a command line containing the start keyword followed by a space, indicating a service start operation. Attackers often use built-in command utilities like net.exe to execute service-related actions without writing custom tooling. It relies on process creation telemetry, matching the executable name/path and the presence of the ' start ' token in the command line.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1569.002/T1569.002.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_net_start_service.yml
author: Timur Zinniatullin, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2019-10-21
modified: 2023-03-05
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1569.002
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith:
        - \net.exe
        - \net1.exe
    - OriginalFileName:
        - net.exe
        - net1.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains: " start "
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate administrator or user executes a service for legitimate reasons.
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 2a072a96-a086-49fa-bcb5-15cc5a619093
    type: derived

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