Windows UAC Bypass via consent.exe with comctl32.dll file path pattern

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

Identifies file events where a target filename begins with C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe.@ and ends with \comctl32.dll. This pattern is associated with a UAC bypass technique that leverages a specific consent executable behavior in combination with comctl32.dll. Detection relies on available file event telemetry that includes the full target filename for the attempted operation.

Reporting behind it

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Windows UAC Bypass via consent.exe with comctl32.dll file path pattern

Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

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-via-consent-exe-and-comctl32-dll-file-target-path-62ed5b55

title: Windows UAC Bypass via consent.exe with comctl32.dll file path pattern
id: 054d3ffb-2f00-4e4e-a202-4e0e69ba2cd6
status: test
description: Identifies file events where a target filename begins with C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe.@ and ends with \comctl32.dll. This pattern is associated with a UAC bypass technique that leverages a specific consent executable behavior in combination with comctl32.dll. Detection relies on available file event telemetry that includes the full target filename for the attempted operation.
references:
  - https://github.com/hfiref0x/UACME
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_uac_bypass_consent_comctl32.yml
author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-23
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
  category: file_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetFilename|startswith: C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe.@
    TargetFilename|endswith: \comctl32.dll
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 62ed5b55-f991-406a-85d9-e8e8fdf18789
    type: derived

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