Windows Process Execution: NSudo (NSudo.exe/NSudoLC/NSudoLG)

title: "Windows Process Execution: NSudo (NSudo.exe/NSudoLC/NSudoLG)"
id: bb30c1aa-6ec5-4e6e-ab0a-f77fd75ccd21
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows process creation events where the executable is NSudo (NSudo.exe, NSudoLC.exe, or NSudoLG.exe) and the command line includes NSudo-specific privilege and integrity/elevation parameters. Attackers often use NSudo to execute commands under elevated or specialized security contexts, enabling actions that may otherwise be blocked. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, matching both the executable path/name and the presence of the relevant command-line flags.
references:
  - https://web.archive.org/web/20221019044836/https://nsudo.m2team.org/en-us/
  - https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/run-program-as-system-localsystem-account-windows/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_pua_nsudo.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-01-24
modified: 2023-02-13
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1569.002
  - attack.s0029
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith:
        - \NSudo.exe
        - \NSudoLC.exe
        - \NSudoLG.exe
    - OriginalFileName:
        - NSudo.exe
        - NSudoLC.exe
        - NSudoLG.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - "-U:S "
      - "-U:T "
      - "-U:E "
      - "-P:E "
      - "-M:S "
      - "-M:H "
      - "-U=S "
      - "-U=T "
      - "-U=E "
      - "-P=E "
      - "-M=S "
      - "-M=H "
      - -ShowWindowMode:Hide
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate use by administrators
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 771d1eb5-9587-4568-95fb-9ec44153a012
    type: derived