huntrule

Windows sc.exe Security Descriptor Tampering to Deny Service Access via sdset

Alerts on sc.exe sdset commands that modify service security descriptors to deny access to critical trustees.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-16
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

  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 process executions of sc.exe where the command line includes sdset and a DACL entry beginning with 'D;', indicating a deny-access security descriptor modification. It further narrows matches to cases targeting critical trustee SIDs in the command line (e.g., logged-on user, service logon user, built-in administrators, local system, or everyone). Denying access to a service can be used to disrupt management or persistence by preventing legitimate users and services from interacting with it, and the rule relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the full command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows sc.exe Security Descriptor Tampering to Deny Service Access via sdset
Pivot detection · T1543.003 · 9 related

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