huntrule

Windows Suspicious Service Creation via sc.exe or PowerShell New-Service with Abnormal Binary Paths

Flags service creation commands (sc.exe/New-Service) when the specified binary path includes suspicious directories or script/loader utilities.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-07-14
Updated
2026-07-30
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 identifies Windows processes creating new services using either the sc.exe command with a binPath parameter or the PowerShell New-Service cmdlet specifying -BinaryPathName. The detection matters because creating a new service is a common persistence and privilege-related technique, and attackers may point the service to binaries or script hosts in unusual directories. It relies on process creation telemetry with command line content, matching for service creation indicators and additional suspicious path substrings such as public user directories, temp locations, Startup folders, and common script or loader utilities.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Suspicious Service Creation via sc.exe or PowerShell New-Service with Abnormal Binary Paths
Pivot detection · T1543.003 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.