Windows Cisco Secure Endpoint Uninstall Immunet Service Via Sfc

name: Windows Cisco Secure Endpoint Uninstall Immunet Service Via Sfc
id: ba6e7f4d-a85e-4a14-8e7d-41f4b82e3c9a
version: 5
date: '2026-04-15'
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic detects the use of the sfc.exe utility with the "-u" parameter, which is part of the Cisco Secure Endpoint installation. The "-u" flag allows the uninstallation of Cisco Secure Endpoint components. This detection leverages endpoint telemetry to monitor command-line executions that include the "-u" parameter. The use of this flag is significant as it could indicate an attempt to disable or remove endpoint protection, potentially leaving the system vulnerable to further exploitation. If identified as malicious, this action may be part of a broader effort to disable security mechanisms and avoid detection.
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 1
    - Windows Event Log Security 4688
    - CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_name="sfc.exe" Processes.process="* -u*" NOT Processes.process="* -unblock *" AND NOT Processes.process_path IN ("*:\\Windows\\System32\\*", "*:\\Windows\\SysWOW64\\*", ":\\Windows\\WinSxS\\*") by Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_cisco_secure_endpoint_uninstall_immunet_service_via_sfc_filter`'
how_to_implement: The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint` data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed up the data modeling process.
known_false_positives: It is possible that this action is executed during troubleshooting activity. Activity needs to be confirmed on a case by case basis.
references:
    - https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/security/amp-endpoints/213690-amp-for-endpoint-command-line-switches.html
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$user$" and "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  user = "$user$" dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$user$" and "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$user$", "$dest$") | 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: 7d
      latest_offset: "0"
rba:
    message: Suspicious use of `sfc.exe` to uninstall the Immunet Protect service on $dest$ by user $user$.
    risk_objects:
        - field: user
          type: user
          score: 20
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 20
    threat_objects:
        - field: parent_process_name
          type: parent_process_name
        - field: process_name
          type: process_name
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Security Solution Tampering
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1562.001
    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/attack_techniques/T1562.001/cisco_secure_endpoint_tampering/sfc_tampering.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog