Windows System: Suspicious Clip.exe Execution via Service Control Manager (Event ID 7045)

Alerts on Windows service creation starting clipboard/Clip.exe-related binaries via Service Control Manager ImagePath.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Service: system
Author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-09
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1027Obfuscated Files or Information
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows service creation where the Service Control Manager starts an executable path containing 'Clipboard' or 'i' and where the image path includes clip-related content. Attackers may use Clip.exe to support obfuscated PowerShell or stealthy payload staging by invoking clipboard-related binaries through service execution. The detection relies on System Event ID 7045 telemetry fields for the provider name and the service ImagePath content.

Reporting behind it

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PowerShell Encoded or Download-Cradle Command Line (via process_creation)

Obfuscated Encoded PowerShell Payload Deployed - PowerShell (via powershell)

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Windows System: Suspicious Clip.exe Execution via Service Control Manager (Event ID 7045)

Pivot detection · T1027 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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

windows-service-control-manager-clipboard-related-clip-exe-execution-via-system--63e3365d

title: "Windows System: Suspicious Clip.exe Execution via Service Control Manager (Event ID 7045)"
id: 66c0c82a-bdfe-4c51-809d-05b1a3fc738d
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows service creation where the Service Control Manager starts an executable path containing 'Clipboard' or 'i' and where the image path includes clip-related content. Attackers may use Clip.exe to support obfuscated PowerShell or stealthy payload staging by invoking clipboard-related binaries through service execution. The detection relies on System Event ID 7045 telemetry fields for the provider name and the service ImagePath content.
references:
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/system/service_control_manager/win_system_invoke_obfuscation_via_use_clip_services.yml
author: Nikita Nazarov, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-09
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1027
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: system
detection:
  selection:
    Provider_Name: Service Control Manager
    EventID: 7045
    ImagePath|contains: (Clipboard|i
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 63e3365d-4824-42d8-8b82-e56810fefa0c
    type: derived

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