Windows: Process CallTrace using EditionUpgradeManager COM interface DLL

Alerts on process access events with call traces referencing editionupgrademanagerobj.dll via the EditionUpgradeManager COM interface.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: process_access
Author: oscd.community, Dmitry Uchakin (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-07
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Defense Evasion
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process activity where the call trace contains references to editionupgrademanagerobj.dll, indicating function calls originating from the EditionUpgradeManager COM interface. Because this interface is not commonly used by standard executables, attackers may rely on it to perform actions that blend into legitimate Windows components. Detection relies on process access telemetry that includes call trace contents matching the specified DLL name.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Process CallTrace using EditionUpgradeManager COM interface DLL

Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 9 related

Changelog

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-process-access-function-calls-involving-editionupgrademanager-com-interf-fb3722e4

title: "Windows: Process CallTrace using EditionUpgradeManager COM interface DLL"
id: fa19c6de-a2e1-4fec-80ae-1b161fb38df8
status: test
description: This rule flags process activity where the call trace contains references to editionupgrademanagerobj.dll, indicating function calls originating from the EditionUpgradeManager COM interface. Because this interface is not commonly used by standard executables, attackers may rely on it to perform actions that blend into legitimate Windows components. Detection relies on process access telemetry that includes call trace contents matching the specified DLL name.
references:
  - https://www.snip2code.com/Snippet/4397378/UAC-bypass-using-EditionUpgradeManager-C/
  - https://gist.github.com/hfiref0x/de9c83966623236f5ebf8d9ae2407611
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_access/proc_access_win_uac_bypass_editionupgrademanagerobj.yml
author: oscd.community, Dmitry Uchakin, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-07
modified: 2023-11-30
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
  category: process_access
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    CallTrace|contains: editionupgrademanagerobj.dll
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: fb3722e4-1a06-46b6-b772-253e2e7db933
    type: derived

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