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

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 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.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1569.002 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious PsExec Service Named Sliver

PsExec Remote Service Execution on Target Host (via process_creation)

Renamed Procdump Tool Used for Dumping LSASS Process (via process_creation)

Suspicious Service Installation Masquerading as winupd

Suspicious PSexec Application Execution (via process_creation)

Malicious Metasploit PsExec Named Pipe Command Execution

Malicious PsExec Service Installation via PSEXESVC

Malicious NotPetya Payload Execution via Rundll32 Ordinal Export from Windows Directory

Suspicious Lateral Movement via PsExec Service (via process_creation)

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

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-process-execution-nsudo-nsudo-exe-nsudolc-nsudolg-771d1eb5

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

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL