Sigma rule: Potential CobaltStrike Service Installations - Registry

Rule

Title

Potential CobaltStrike Service Installations - Registry

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Wojciech Lesicki

Date

2021-06-29

Modified

2024-03-25

File

rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_cobaltstrike_service_installs.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects known malicious service installs that appear in cases in which a Cobalt Strike beacon elevates privileges or lateral movement.

Log source

product

windows

category

registry_set

Detection

selection_key:
    - TargetObject|contains: '\System\CurrentControlSet\Services'
    - TargetObject|contains|all:
          - '\System\ControlSet'
          - '\Services'
selection_details:
    - Details|contains|all:
          - 'ADMIN$'
          - '.exe'
    - Details|contains|all:
          - '%COMSPEC%'
          - 'start'
          - 'powershell'
condition: all of selection_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unlikely

Tags

• attack.persistence
• attack.execution
• attack.privilege-escalation
• attack.lateral-movement
• attack.t1021.002
• attack.t1543.003
• attack.t1569.002

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1021.002
• T1543.003
• T1569.002

References

• https://www.sans.org/webcasts/tech-tuesday-workshop-cobalt-strike-detection-log-analysis-119395

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_cobaltstrike_service_installs.yml