Windows System Service Execution of Credential Dumping Tools via Service Control Manager (Event ID 7045)

Flags Service Control Manager service creation with ImagePath names tied to credential dumping tools (Event ID 7045).

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windows-system-service-execution-of-credential-dumping-tools-via-service-control-4976aa50

title: Windows System Service Execution of Credential Dumping Tools via Service Control Manager (Event ID 7045)
id: c29d728e-5675-4db6-92a0-7276fde053c5
status: test
description: This rule identifies executions where the Service Control Manager creates a service (Event ID 7045) whose ImagePath contains strings associated with well-known credential dumping tools. Attackers use service-based execution to run credential-access utilities with elevated privileges and to stage or collect sensitive credential material. The detection relies on Windows System telemetry capturing service creation events and the ImagePath field content.
references:
  - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/system/service_control_manager/win_system_mal_creddumper.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Teymur Kheirkhabarov, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2017-03-05
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1003.001
  - attack.t1003.002
  - attack.t1003.004
  - attack.t1003.005
  - attack.t1003.006
  - attack.t1569.002
  - attack.s0005
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: system
detection:
  selection:
    Provider_Name: Service Control Manager
    EventID: 7045
    ImagePath|contains:
      - cachedump
      - dumpsvc
      - fgexec
      - gsecdump
      - mimidrv
      - pwdump
      - servpw
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate Administrator using credential dumping tool for password recovery
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 4976aa50-8f41-45c6-8b15-ab3fc10e79ed
    type: derived

What it detects

This rule identifies executions where the Service Control Manager creates a service (Event ID 7045) whose ImagePath contains strings associated with well-known credential dumping tools. Attackers use service-based execution to run credential-access utilities with elevated privileges and to stage or collect sensitive credential material. The detection relies on Windows System telemetry capturing service creation events and the ImagePath field content.

Known false positives

Legitimate Administrator using credential dumping tool for password recovery

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