huntrule

Windows UAC Bypass via ComputerDefaults.exe with Elevated Integrity Parent Process

Flags ComputerDefaults.exe runs at high/system integrity when the parent isn’t from typical system or Program Files paths.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-08-31
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

  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 executions of C:\Windows\System32\ComputerDefaults.exe when the spawned process runs with high/system integrity levels and excludes cases where the parent process path contains common system and Program Files locations. Adversaries may use UAC bypass tooling to execute privileged actions while avoiding interactive prompts. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, including the target executable path, integrity level, and parent image path.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1548.002 — drag to rearrange
Possible UAC Bypass via easinvoker Spawning Batch Script (via process_creation)
Suspicious UAC Bypass by Disabling Admin Consent Prompt via registry_set
Malicious Cloud Atlas UAC Bypass via fodhelper (via process_creation)
Suspicious computerdefaults.exe Spawning Child Process
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 ComputerDefaults.exe with Elevated Integrity Parent Process
Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 9 related

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