Windows sc.exe Service Query Execution via Command Line

Flags sc.exe executions with command lines containing " query", consistent with Windows service information discovery.

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windows-sc-exe-service-query-execution-via-command-line-57712d7a

title: Windows sc.exe Service Query Execution via Command Line
id: 98451f66-5f67-4096-a8a5-f1746418a67d
status: test
description: This rule identifies process executions of sc.exe where the command line includes the token " query", indicating an attempt to query information about registered Windows services. Attackers and administrators may use this to enumerate service states or related details before further actions. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation events capturing Image/OriginalFileName and the full CommandLine string.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1007/T1007.md#atomic-test-1---system-service-discovery
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_sc_query.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-12-06
modified: 2024-02-08
tags:
  - attack.discovery
  - attack.t1007
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    Image|endswith: \sc.exe
    OriginalFileName: sc.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains: " query"
  filter_optional_keybase:
    CommandLine: sc query dokan1
  condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate query of a service by an administrator to get more information such as the state or PID
  - Keybase process "kbfsdokan.exe" query the dokan1 service with the following commandline "sc query dokan1"
level: low
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 57712d7a-679c-4a41-a913-87e7175ae429
    type: derived

What it detects

This rule identifies process executions of sc.exe where the command line includes the token " query", indicating an attempt to query information about registered Windows services. Attackers and administrators may use this to enumerate service states or related details before further actions. Telemetry relies on Windows process creation events capturing Image/OriginalFileName and the full CommandLine string.

Known false positives

Legitimate query of a service by an administrator to get more information such as the state or PID
Keybase process "kbfsdokan.exe" query the dokan1 service with the following commandline "sc query dokan1"

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