System Service Discovery through built-in Windows Utilities

ELASTIC detection rule by Elastic · Elastic License v2

Detects the usage of commonly used system service discovery techniques, which attackers may use during the reconnaissance phase after compromising a system in order to gain a better understanding of the environment and/or escalate privileges.

[metadata]
bypass_bbr_timing = true
creation_date = "2023/01/24"
integration = ["windows", "endpoint", "system"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2026/03/24"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
building_block_type = "default"
description = """
Detects the usage of commonly used system service discovery techniques, which attackers may use during the
reconnaissance phase after compromising a system in order to gain a better understanding of the environment and/or
escalate privileges.
"""
from = "now-9m"
index = [
    "endgame-*",
    "logs-endpoint.events.process-*",
    "logs-system.security*",
    "logs-windows.*",
    "winlogbeat-*",
]
language = "eql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "System Service Discovery through built-in Windows Utilities"
risk_score = 21
rule_id = "e0881d20-54ac-457f-8733-fe0bc5d44c55"
severity = "low"
tags = [
    "Domain: Endpoint",
    "OS: Windows",
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Discovery",
    "Data Source: Elastic Defend",
    "Data Source: Elastic Endgame",
    "Rule Type: BBR",
    "Data Source: Windows Security Event Logs",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "eql"

query = '''
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and process.parent.executable != null and
  (
  ((process.name: "net.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "net.exe" or (process.name : "net1.exe" and 
    not process.parent.name : "net.exe")) and process.args : ("start", "use") and process.args_count == 2 and
    not process.parent.args : ("*.bat", "*netlogon*", "\\\\*")) or
  ((process.name: "sc.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "sc.exe") and process.args: ("query", "q*") and not process.parent.args : "*.bat") or
  ((process.name: "tasklist.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "tasklist.exe") and process.args: "/svc" and not process.command_line : "*\\Windows\\TEMP\\nessus_task_list*") or
  (process.name : "psservice.exe" or process.pe.original_file_name == "psservice.exe")
  ) and
  not user.id in ("S-1-5-18", "S-1-5-19", "S-1-5-20") and
  not process.parent.executable in
                       ("C:\\Program Files\\AzureConnectedMachineAgent\\himds.exe",
                        "C:\\Program Files\\AzureConnectedMachineAgent\\azcmagent.exe",
                        "C:\\Program Files\\Varian\\DICOMServices\\VMS.DICOMServices.ServiceFW.GenericControlledServiceHost.exe",
                        "C:\\Senior\\HCM\\jdk-11.0.2\\bin\\java.exe",
                        "D:\\biomerieux\\programs\\ServiceMonitor\\bin\\MylaServiceMonitor.exe",
                        "C:\\ViewPowerPro\\openJDK\\bin\\javaw.exe",
                        "C:\\ServiceNow MID Server mid-server-autosports-prod\\agent\\jre\\bin\\java.exe") and
  not process.command_line in ("sc  queryex SCardSvr",
                               "sc  query \"Axway_Integrator\" ",
                               "sc  query \"Delta enteliVAULT PostgreSQL\" ",
                               "sc  query \"WERMA-WIN-Connector\" ",
                               "sc  query _EWSSynchronizationServer_JDE ",
                               "sc query SchneiderUPSMySQL")
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1007"
name = "System Service Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1007/"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1057"
name = "Process Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1057/"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1135"
name = "Network Share Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1135/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0007"
name = "Discovery"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0007/"

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

d9ae3e0c-e71e-44d0-988a-a7613f6b02c2

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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

[[ reason ]]

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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.

[[ reason ]]

What do these messages mean?

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

[[ currentRule.title ]]

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