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

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 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

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Windows Service Install: NtsSrv (StoneDrill) via Service Control Manager Event 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-install-ntssrv-via-service-control-manager-7045-9e987c6c

title: "Windows Service Install: NtsSrv (StoneDrill) via Service Control Manager Event 7045"
id: c6d87107-6cb5-43d9-9592-8f69e580158c
status: test
description: 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'.
references:
  - https://securelist.com/blog/research/77725/from-shamoon-to-stonedrill/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2017/Malware/StoneDrill/win_system_apt_stonedrill.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2017-03-07
modified: 2021-11-30
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.g0064
  - attack.t1543.003
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: system
detection:
  selection:
    Provider_Name: Service Control Manager
    EventID: 7045
    ServiceName: NtsSrv
    ImagePath|endswith: " LocalService"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 9e987c6c-4c1e-40d8-bd85-dd26fba8fdd6
    type: derived

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