huntrule

Windows Sysmon Configuration Update via Sysmon64 Command-Line

Flags execution of Sysmon binaries with '-c', indicating a Sysmon configuration update attempt.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-03-09
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

  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 matches process creation events where Sysmon64/Sysmon64a/Sysmon is launched with a command line containing the '-c' argument used for configuration updates. Attackers can abuse configuration changes to weaken or alter monitoring while leaving the Sysmon service running. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, including the image path, process description, and command line content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange
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Malicious Microsoft Defender Disabled via Registry DisableAntiSpyware (via process_creation)
Suspicious Termination of Defender Tray Process via Taskkill
Malicious Windows Defender Disablement via MpCmdRun RemoveDefinitions
Malicious Unsigned VIB Installation on ESXi Host via esxcli (via process_creation)
Suspicious In-Memory PowerShell Execution from Web Server via Automation Assembly (via image_load)
Malicious EDR Evasion Driver Load from AnyDesk Directory via k.sys (via image_load)
Windows Sysmon Configuration Update via Sysmon64 Command-Line
Pivot detection · T1685 · 9 related

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