huntrule

Windows Process Creation Matching TrustedPath UAC Bypass Directory Mocking Strings

Alerts on Windows processes referencing System32/SysWOW64 paths consistent with TrustedPath UAC bypass directory mocking.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-08-27
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows process creation events whose command line or image field contains the system directory paths associated with TrustedPath UAC bypass techniques (C:\Windows\System32\ and C:\Windows\SysWOW64\). Such behavior can indicate an attempt to interfere with how elevated components resolve trusted locations to gain privilege without proper authorization. It relies on process creation telemetry and string matching on the observed process Image field.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious dllhost.exe Spawned with CLSID and Anomalous Parent (via process_creation)
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Malicious User Account Control Bypass via Auto-Elevating Binary Hijack (via process_creation)
Suspicious Mock Trusted Directory with Trailing Space (via process_creation)
Windows Process Creation Matching TrustedPath UAC Bypass Directory Mocking Strings
Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 9 related

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