File and Directory Permissions Modification

ELASTIC detection rule by Elastic · Elastic License v2

Identifies the change of permissions/ownership of files/folders through built-in Windows utilities. Threat actors may require permission modification of files/folders to change, modify or delete them.

[metadata]
creation_date = "2023/07/12"
integration = ["endpoint"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2024/05/21"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
building_block_type = "default"
description = """
Identifies the change of permissions/ownership of files/folders through built-in Windows utilities. Threat actors may
require permission modification of files/folders to change, modify or delete them.
"""
from = "now-119m"
index = ["logs-endpoint.events.process-*"]
interval = "60m"
language = "eql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "File and Directory Permissions Modification"
risk_score = 21
rule_id = "bc9e4f5a-e263-4213-a2ac-1edf9b417ada"
severity = "low"
tags = [
    "Domain: Endpoint",
    "OS: Windows",
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Defense Evasion",
    "Rule Type: BBR",
    "Data Source: Elastic Defend",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "eql"

query = '''
process where event.type == "start" and host.os.type == "windows" and
(
  ((process.name: "icacls.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "iCACLS.EXE") and process.args: ("*:F", "/reset", "/setowner", "*grant*")) or
  ((process.name: "cacls.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "CACLS.EXE") and process.args: ("/g", "*:f")) or
  ((process.name: "takeown.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "takeown.exe") and process.args: ("/F")) or
  ((process.name: "attrib.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name== "ATTRIB.EXE") and process.args: "-r")
) and not user.id : "S-1-5-18" and
not (
  process.args : ("C:\\ProgramData\\Lenovo\\*", "C:\\ProgramData\\Adobe\\*", "C:\\ProgramData\\ASUS\\ASUS*")
)
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1222"
name = "File and Directory Permissions Modification"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1222/"
[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1222.001"
name = "Windows File and Directory Permissions Modification"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1222/001/"



[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"

[[ currentRule.title && currentRule.title.length > 60 ? currentRule.title.slice(0, 60) + '…' : currentRule.title ]]

deb62a59-636c-48ca-858b-8bd55767ed47

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Executable code, not a declarative rule

This submission is arbitrary [[ currentRule.format ? currentRule.format.toUpperCase() : '' ]] code, not a declarative detection rule — review it as you would any script before running it, and note that it cannot be safely aggregated or auto-executed alongside YARA/Sigma/Suricata/CRS rules.

Rejected pattern present

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Format & documentation suggestions

Not a security issue — this rule is valid and was accepted as-is. These are optional fields/conventions its own format recommends, mainly affecting its quality score and how well it documents itself for other reviewers.

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[[ currentRule.title && currentRule.title.length > 60 ? currentRule.title.slice(0, 60) + '…' : currentRule.title ]]

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