Windows Service ImagePath Set to Non-Admin Controlled Directory

Alerts when a Windows service’s ImagePath is changed to a binary path under AppData or ProgramData.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v5

Product: windows
Category: registry_set
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-05-02
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1112Modify Registry
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1112Modify Registry
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies registry changes where a Windows service’s ImagePath is set to a location within ProgramData or AppData-style user-controlled directories. Such paths can support staging, persistence, or privilege escalation if an attacker can influence or replace the referenced binaries. It relies on Windows registry set telemetry for TargetObject and Details fields containing ControlSet service ImagePath values pointing into those directories, while excluding several known benign services and well-known Defender/Zoom/MBAM installer patterns.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1112 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Enabling of Restricted Admin Mode via Registry by UAT-8837

Suspicious Enabling of Remote Desktop via fDenyTSConnections Registry by DeadLock Ransomware

Malicious Service DLL Hijack for Persistence via Lotus Blossom

Suspicious Loopback Proxy Server Configured via Registry (via registry_set)

Malicious WDigest Credential Caching Enabled via Registry (via registry_set)

Suspicious Remote Desktop Enabled via fDenyTSConnections Registry by Sandworm

Malicious Gh0stBins RAT Registry Marker HHClient

Suspicious PebbleDash C2 Configuration Stored Under WMI Security Key (via registry_set)

Suspicious WDigest UseLogonCredential Enablement for Plaintext Credential Theft (via registry_set)

Windows Service ImagePath Set to Non-Admin Controlled Directory

Pivot detection · T1112 · 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-imagepath-set-to-user-controlled-directory-via-registry-277dc340

title: Windows Service ImagePath Set to Non-Admin Controlled Directory
id: 24513b7a-c9d9-467f-abc4-71ec691bd0bb
related:
  - id: c625c4c2-515d-407f-8bb6-456f65955669
    type: obsolete
  - id: 277dc340-0540-42e7-8efb-5ff460045e07
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies registry changes where a Windows service’s ImagePath is set to a location within ProgramData or AppData-style user-controlled directories. Such paths can support staging, persistence, or privilege escalation if an attacker can influence or replace the referenced binaries. It relies on Windows registry set telemetry for TargetObject and Details fields containing ControlSet service ImagePath values pointing into those directories, while excluding several known benign services and well-known Defender/Zoom/MBAM installer patterns.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1562.001/T1562.001.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-threat-hunting/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_service_image_path_user_controlled_folder.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-05-02
modified: 2024-03-25
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1112
  - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
  category: registry_set
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|contains|all:
      - ControlSet
      - \Services\
    TargetObject|endswith: \ImagePath
    Details|contains:
      - :\ProgramData\
      - \AppData\Local\
      - \AppData\Roaming\
  filter_optional_zoom:
    TargetObject|contains: \Services\ZoomCptService
    Details|contains: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Zoom\Support\CptService.exe
  filter_optional_mbami:
    TargetObject|contains: \Services\MBAMInstallerService
    Details|contains|all:
      - C:\Users\
      - AppData\Local\Temp\MBAMInstallerService.exe
  filter_main_windefend:
    TargetObject|contains:
      - \Services\WinDefend\
      - \Services\MpKs
    Details|contains: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

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