huntrule

Windows Service Installation with PowerShell Download and Hidden Execution

Alerts on Windows service creation (7045) with ImagePath patterns indicating hidden/staged command execution.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Service
system
Author
pH-T (Nextron Systems), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-03-18
Updated
2026-07-31
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 Windows Service Control Manager events where a newly installed service is associated with suspicious ImagePath content. It looks for common PowerShell download patterns (downloadfile/downloadstring), execution modifiers such as nop and hidden, and telltale path usage like Temp, ADMIN$, or Perflogs. Attackers may use service installation to establish persistence and run code with elevated or concealed execution, so the rule relies on Windows system service creation telemetry (Event ID 7045) and the service ImagePath string.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious TermService ServiceDll Hijack via Registry (via registry_set)
Suspicious Service Creation Named RDP-Controller via sc.exe (via process_creation)
Suspicious Service or Task Named windowsinspectionupdate (via process_creation)
Malicious Service Persistence via sc.exe Creating msdnetsvc
Suspicious Stately Taurus Masqueraded Service and Task Persistence via process_creation
Malicious Vulnerable Driver Load for EDR Evasion (via image_load)
Malicious Gelsemium OwlProxy wmipd DLL Load via image_load
Windows Service Installation with PowerShell Download and Hidden Execution
Pivot detection · T1543.003 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.