splunk_escuAnomaly

Windows Access Token Manipulation SeDebugPrivilege

The following analytic detects a process enabling the "SeDebugPrivilege" privilege token. It leverages Windows Security Event Logs with EventCode 4703, filtering out common legitimate processes. This activity is significant because SeDebugPrivilege allows a process to inspect and modify the memory of other processes, potentially leading to credential dumping or code injection. If confirmed malicious, an attacker could gain extensive control over system processes, enabling them to escalate privileges, persist in the environment, or access sensitive information.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1134.002

Detection Query

`wineventlog_security` EventCode=4703 EnabledPrivilegeList = "*SeDebugPrivilege*" AND NOT(ProcessName IN ("*\\Program File*", "*\\System32\\lsass.exe*", "*\\SysWOW64\\lsass.exe*", "*\\SysWOW64\\svchost.exe*", "*\\System32\\svchost.exe*")) | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by Computer ProcessName ProcessId SubjectDomainName SubjectUserName SubjectUserSid TargetUserName TargetLogonId TargetDomainName EnabledPrivilegeList action dest | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_access_token_manipulation_sedebugprivilege_filter`

Author

Teoderick Contreras, Splunk

Created

2026-03-26

Data Sources

Windows Event Log Security 4703

References

Tags

Meduza StealerPlugXCISA AA23-347AChina-Nexus Threat ActivityAsyncRATSnappyBeeDerusbiWinDealer RATSalt TyphoonDarkGate MalwareValleyRATBrute Ratel C4PathWiperGhostRedirector IIS Module and Rungan BackdoorLokibotScattered Lapsus$ HuntersTuoniGh0st RAT

Raw Content

name: Windows Access Token Manipulation SeDebugPrivilege
id: 6ece9ed0-5f92-4315-889d-48560472b188
version: 20
date: '2026-03-26'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic detects a process enabling the "SeDebugPrivilege" privilege token. It leverages Windows Security Event Logs with EventCode 4703, filtering out common legitimate processes. This activity is significant because SeDebugPrivilege allows a process to inspect and modify the memory of other processes, potentially leading to credential dumping or code injection. If confirmed malicious, an attacker could gain extensive control over system processes, enabling them to escalate privileges, persist in the environment, or access sensitive information.
data_source:
    - Windows Event Log Security 4703
search: '`wineventlog_security` EventCode=4703 EnabledPrivilegeList = "*SeDebugPrivilege*" AND NOT(ProcessName IN ("*\\Program File*", "*\\System32\\lsass.exe*", "*\\SysWOW64\\lsass.exe*", "*\\SysWOW64\\svchost.exe*", "*\\System32\\svchost.exe*")) | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by Computer ProcessName ProcessId SubjectDomainName SubjectUserName SubjectUserSid TargetUserName TargetLogonId TargetDomainName EnabledPrivilegeList action dest | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_access_token_manipulation_sedebugprivilege_filter`'
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting Windows Security Event Logs with 4703 EventCode enabled. The Windows TA is also required.
known_false_positives: Some native binaries and browser applications may request SeDebugPrivilege. Filter as needed.
references:
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4703
    - https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20080314-00/?p=23113
    - https://blog.palantir.com/windows-privilege-abuse-auditing-detection-and-defense-3078a403d74e
    - https://atomicredteam.io/privilege-escalation/T1134.001/#atomic-test-2---%60sedebugprivilege%60-token-duplication
    - https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/win.asyncrat
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$Computer$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  Computer = "$Computer$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$Computer$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$Computer$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: A process $ProcessName$ adjust its privileges with SeDebugPrivilege on $Computer$.
    risk_objects:
        - field: Computer
          type: system
          score: 20
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Meduza Stealer
        - PlugX
        - CISA AA23-347A
        - China-Nexus Threat Activity
        - AsyncRAT
        - SnappyBee
        - Derusbi
        - WinDealer RAT
        - Salt Typhoon
        - DarkGate Malware
        - ValleyRAT
        - Brute Ratel C4
        - PathWiper
        - GhostRedirector IIS Module and Rungan Backdoor
        - Lokibot
        - Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters
        - Tuoni
        - Gh0st RAT
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1134.002
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/malware/brute_ratel/sedebugprivilege_token/security-xml.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Security
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog