huntrule

Windows Service Install: NtsSrv (StoneDrill) via Service Control Manager Event 7045

Flags Windows service installs of NtsSrv by Service Control Manager with an ImagePath ending in " LocalService".

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5
Product
windows
Service
system
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2017-03-07
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 installation events where the Service Control Manager creates the NtsSrv service. The behavior matters because creating a new service at runtime can establish persistence or run malicious payloads under a defined account. Detection relies on the Windows System service-install telemetry (Event ID 7045) including the service name, provider, and the end of the service ImagePath indicating ' LocalService'.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1543.003 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Service Created With Binary Path in ProgramData
Malicious Abyss Locker wmihelper SSH Backdoor Deployment (via file_event)
Malicious AuKill EDR Killer Kernel Driver Load via Process Explorer Driver (via image_load)
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)
Windows Service Install: NtsSrv (StoneDrill) via Service Control Manager Event 7045
Pivot detection · T1543.003 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. 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.