Windows Service Control Manager: WerFaultSvc Installed via Service Creation (Event ID 7045)

Alerts on Windows Event 7045 service creation for "WerFaultSvc" as an indicator of dropper-style persistence.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v5

Product: windows
Service: system
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2018-11-23
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1543.003Windows Service
Priv Esc
- T1543.003Windows Service
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags creation or installation events where the Service Control Manager reports ServiceName "WerFaultSvc" in a Windows system service event with Event ID 7045. Attackers may abuse service creation to gain persistence or elevate execution by registering their payload as a Windows service. The detection relies on Windows System logs from the Service Control Manager, specifically the service name and Event ID fields.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1543.003 — drag to rearrange

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Interactive Service Creation Executing cmd via sc.exe

Windows Service Control Manager: WerFaultSvc Installed via Service Creation (Event ID 7045)

Pivot detection · T1543.003 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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-creation-werfaultsvc-scm-event-7045-for-turla-png-dropper-indica-1228f8e2

title: "Windows Service Control Manager: WerFaultSvc Installed via Service Creation (Event ID 7045)"
id: 03296f8e-885c-43c1-84e2-e9221840120f
status: test
description: This rule flags creation or installation events where the Service Control Manager reports ServiceName "WerFaultSvc" in a Windows system service event with Event ID 7045. Attackers may abuse service creation to gain persistence or elevate execution by registering their payload as a Windows service. The detection relies on Windows System logs from the Service Control Manager, specifically the service name and Event ID fields.
references:
  - https://research.nccgroup.com/2018/11/22/turla-png-dropper-is-back/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2017/TA/Turla/win_system_apt_turla_service_png.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2018-11-23
modified: 2021-11-30
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.g0010
  - attack.t1543.003
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: system
detection:
  selection:
    Provider_Name: Service Control Manager
    EventID: 7045
    ServiceName: WerFaultSvc
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: critical
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1228f8e2-7e79-4dea-b0ad-c91f1d5016c1
    type: derived

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