Windows Service Control Manager: ProcessHacker service runs as LocalSystem
Flags Windows service installs for ProcessHacker-prefixed services running as LocalSystem.
- Product
- windows
- Service
- system
- Author
- Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2021-05-27
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → Priv EscRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags creation of a Windows service named with a ProcessHacker prefix that runs under the LocalSystem account. Attackers may use ProcessHacker to attempt privilege escalation by leveraging a highly privileged service context. The detection relies on Windows System event telemetry for Service Control Manager service installation events, matching the service name prefix and the service account.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Windows Service Control Manager: ProcessHacker service runs as LocalSystem"
id: b0eb5fb4-3de1-45b8-a7bd-f2c0981f69a8
status: test
description: This rule flags creation of a Windows service named with a ProcessHacker prefix that runs under the LocalSystem account. Attackers may use ProcessHacker to attempt privilege escalation by leveraging a highly privileged service context. The detection relies on Windows System event telemetry for Service Control Manager service installation events, matching the service name prefix and the service account.
references:
- https://twitter.com/1kwpeter/status/1397816101455765504
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/system/service_control_manager/win_system_service_install_pua_proceshacker.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-05-27
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
- attack.persistence
- attack.execution
- attack.privilege-escalation
- attack.t1543.003
- attack.t1569.002
logsource:
product: windows
service: system
detection:
selection:
Provider_Name: Service Control Manager
EventID: 7045
ServiceName|startswith: ProcessHacker
AccountName: LocalSystem
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: c4ff1eac-84ad-44dd-a6fb-d56a92fc43a9
type: derived