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Service Startup Type Change Via Wmic.EXE

Detects changes to service startup type to 'disabled' or 'manual' using the WMIC command-line utility.

MITRE ATT&CK

execution

Detection Query

selection_img:
  - Image|endswith: \WMIC.exe
  - OriginalFileName: wmic.exe
selection_cli:
  CommandLine|contains|all:
    - " service "
    - ChangeStartMode
  CommandLine|contains:
    - Manual
    - Disabled
condition: all of selection_*

Author

Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)

Created

2026-04-27

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

https://blog.talosintelligence.com/uncovering-qilin-attack-methods-exposed-through-multiple-cases/

Tags

attack.executionattack.defense-impairmentattack.t1047attack.t1685

Raw Content

title: Service Startup Type Change Via Wmic.EXE
id: c0514f28-fdae-42df-b886-06e2b2bc5b37
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects changes to service startup type to 'disabled' or 'manual' using the WMIC command-line utility.
references:
    - https://blog.talosintelligence.com/uncovering-qilin-attack-methods-exposed-through-multiple-cases/
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2026-04-27
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1047
    - attack.t1685
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\WMIC.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' service '
            - 'ChangeStartMode'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'Manual'
            - 'Disabled'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administrative changes to service startup types using WMIC, investigate accordingly.
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_service_startup_change/info.yml