Windows UAC bypass via IEInstal.exe dropping consent.exe to Temp

Alerts on IEInstal.exe activity writing consent.exe under AppData Local Temp to support a UAC bypass attempt.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: file_event
Author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-08-30
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Defense Evasion
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule matches file activity where IEInstal.exe is executed and writes a file under a user’s folder to the AppData\Local\Temp directory ending with consent.exe. Such a pattern is consistent with UAC bypass workflows that stage an executable in a temporary location. The detection relies on Windows file event telemetry capturing the Image path and TargetFilename characteristics (start, contain, and end).

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious UAC Bypass via control.exe App Paths or Shell Open Command Hijack

Malicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)

Suspicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)

Malicious UAC Bypass via explorer.exe NOUACCHECK Argument

Suspicious UAC Bypass via ms-settings Shell Command Hijack (via registry_set)

Windows UAC bypass via IEInstal.exe dropping consent.exe to Temp

Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 9 related

Changelog

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-uac-bypass-attempt-via-ieinstal-exe-writing-consent-exe-to-temp-bdd8157d

title: Windows UAC bypass via IEInstal.exe dropping consent.exe to Temp
id: f5588e14-15de-425d-91ca-5adef7e12998
status: test
description: This rule matches file activity where IEInstal.exe is executed and writes a file under a user’s folder to the AppData\Local\Temp directory ending with consent.exe. Such a pattern is consistent with UAC bypass workflows that stage an executable in a temporary location. The detection relies on Windows file event telemetry capturing the Image path and TargetFilename characteristics (start, contain, and end).
references:
  - https://github.com/hfiref0x/UACME
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_uac_bypass_ieinstal.yml
author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-30
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
  category: file_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEInstal.exe
    TargetFilename|startswith: C:\Users\
    TargetFilename|contains: \AppData\Local\Temp\
    TargetFilename|endswith: consent.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: bdd8157d-8e85-4397-bb82-f06cc9c71dbb
    type: derived

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