Suspicious Windows Service Tampering

title: Suspicious Windows Service Tampering
id: ce72ef99-22f1-43d4-8695-419dcb5d9330
related:
    - id: eb87818d-db5d-49cc-a987-d5da331fbd90
      type: obsolete
    - id: 6783aa9e-0dc3-49d4-a94a-8b39c5fd700b
      type: obsolete
    - id: 7fd4bb39-12d0-45ab-bb36-cebabc73dc7b
      type: obsolete
status: test
description: |
    Detects the usage of binaries such as 'net', 'sc' or 'powershell' in order to stop, pause, disable or delete critical or important Windows services such as AV, Backup, etc. As seen being used in some ransomware scripts
references:
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/content/dam/trendmicro/global/en/research/22/h/ransomware-actor-abuses-genshin-impact-anti-cheat-driver-to-kill-antivirus/Genshin%20Impact%20Figure%2010.jpg
    - https://www.trellix.com/en-sg/about/newsroom/stories/threat-labs/lockergoga-ransomware-family-used-in-targeted-attacks.html
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1562.001/T1562.001.md
    - https://research.nccgroup.com/2022/08/19/back-in-black-unlocking-a-lockbit-3-0-ransomware-attack/
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/38283b775552da8981452941ea74191aa0d203edd3f61fb2dee7b0aea3514955
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/cimwin32prov/delete-method-in-class-win32-service
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), frack113 , X__Junior (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-09-01
modified: 2025-08-27
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.impact
    - attack.t1489
    - attack.t1562.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_tools_img:
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'net.exe'
              - 'net1.exe'
              - 'PowerShell_ISE.EXE'
              - 'PowerShell.EXE'
              - 'psservice.exe'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
              - 'sc.exe'
              - 'wmic.exe'
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\net.exe'
              - '\net1.exe'
              - '\PowerShell_ISE.EXE'
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\PsService.exe'
              - '\PsService64.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
              - '\sc.exe'
              - '\wmic.exe' # wmic process call win32_service where name='servicename' delete
    selection_tools_cli:
        - CommandLine|contains:
              - ' delete '
              - '.delete()' # Get-WmiObject win32_service -Filter "name='$serviceName'" ).delete()
              - ' pause ' # Covers flags from: PsService and Sc.EXE
              - ' stop ' # Covers flags from: PsService.EXE, Net.EXE and Sc.EXE
              - 'Stop-Service '
              - 'Remove-Service '
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'config'
              - 'start=disabled'
    selection_services:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '143Svc'
            - 'Acronis VSS Provider'
            - 'AcronisAgent'
            - 'AcrSch2Svc'
            - 'AdobeARMservice'
            - 'AHS Service'
            - 'Antivirus'
            - 'Apache4'
            - 'ARSM'
            - 'aswBcc'
            - 'AteraAgent'
            - 'Avast Business Console Client Antivirus Service'
            - 'avast! Antivirus'
            - 'AVG Antivirus'
            - 'avgAdminClient'
            - 'AvgAdminServer'
            - 'AVP1'
            - 'BackupExec'
            - 'bedbg'
            - 'BITS'
            - 'BrokerInfrastructure'
            - 'CASLicenceServer'
            - 'CASWebServer'
            - 'Client Agent 7.60'
            - 'Core Browsing Protection'
            - 'Core Mail Protection'
            - 'Core Scanning Server'
            - 'DCAgent'
            - 'dwmrcs'
            - 'EhttpSr'
            - 'ekrn'
            - 'Enterprise Client Service'
            - 'epag'
            - 'EPIntegrationService'
            - 'EPProtectedService'
            - 'EPRedline'
            - 'EPSecurityService'
            - 'EPUpdateService'
            - 'EraserSvc11710'
            - 'EsgShKernel'
            - 'ESHASRV'
            - 'FA_Scheduler'
            - 'FirebirdGuardianDefaultInstance'
            - 'FirebirdServerDefaultInstance'
            - 'FontCache3.0.0.0'
            - 'HealthTLService'
            - 'hmpalertsvc'
            - 'HMS'
            - 'HostControllerService'
            - 'hvdsvc'
            - 'IAStorDataMgrSvc'
            - 'IBMHPS'
            - 'ibmspsvc'
            - 'IISAdmin'
            - 'IMANSVC'
            - 'IMAP4Svc'
            - 'instance2'
            - 'KAVFS'
            - 'KAVFSGT'
            - 'kavfsslp'
            - 'KeyIso'
            - 'klbackupdisk'
            - 'klbackupflt'
            - 'klflt'
            - 'klhk'
            - 'KLIF'
            - 'klim6'
            - 'klkbdflt'
            - 'klmouflt'
            - 'klnagent'
            - 'klpd'
            - 'kltap'
            - 'KSDE1.0.0'
            - 'LogProcessorService'
            - 'M8EndpointAgent'
            - 'macmnsvc'
            - 'masvc'
            - 'MBAMService'
            - 'MBCloudEA'
            - 'MBEndpointAgent'
            - 'McAfeeDLPAgentService'
            - 'McAfeeEngineService'
            - 'MCAFEEEVENTPARSERSRV'
            - 'McAfeeFramework'
            - 'MCAFEETOMCATSRV530'
            - 'McShield'
            - 'McTaskManager'
            - 'mfefire'
            - 'mfemms'
            - 'mfevto'
            - 'mfevtp'
            - 'mfewc'
            - 'MMS'
            - 'mozyprobackup'
            - 'mpssvc'
            - 'MSComplianceAudit'
            - 'MSDTC'
            - 'MsDtsServer'
            - 'MSExchange'
            - 'msftesq1SPROO'
            - 'msftesql$PROD'
            - 'msftesql$SQLEXPRESS'
            - 'MSOLAP$SQL_2008'
            - 'MSOLAP$SYSTEM_BGC'
            - 'MSOLAP$TPS'
            - 'MSOLAP$TPSAMA'
            - 'MSOLAPSTPS'
            - 'MSOLAPSTPSAMA'
            - 'mssecflt'
            - 'MSSQ!I.SPROFXENGAGEMEHT'
            - 'MSSQ0SHAREPOINT'
            - 'MSSQ0SOPHOS'
            - 'MSSQL'
            - 'MSSQLFDLauncher$'
            - 'MySQL'
            - 'NanoServiceMain'
            - 'NetMsmqActivator'
            - 'NetPipeActivator'
            - 'netprofm'
            - 'NetTcpActivator'
            - 'NetTcpPortSharing'
            - 'ntrtscan'
            - 'nvspwmi'
            - 'ofcservice'
            - 'Online Protection System'
            - 'OracleClientCache80'
            - 'OracleDBConsole'
            - 'OracleMTSRecoveryService'
            - 'OracleOraDb11g_home1'
            - 'OracleService'
            - 'OracleVssWriter'
            - 'osppsvc'
            - 'PandaAetherAgent'
            - 'PccNTUpd'
            - 'PDVFSService'
            - 'POP3Svc'
            - 'postgresql-x64-9.4'
            - 'POVFSService'
            - 'PSUAService'
            - 'Quick Update Service'
            - 'RepairService'
            - 'ReportServer'
            - 'ReportServer$'
            - 'RESvc'
            - 'RpcEptMapper'
            - 'sacsvr'
            - 'SamSs'
            - 'SAVAdminService'
            - 'SAVService'
            - 'ScSecSvc'
            - 'SDRSVC'
            - 'SearchExchangeTracing'
            - 'sense'
            - 'SentinelAgent'
            - 'SentinelHelperService'
            - 'SepMasterService'
            - 'ShMonitor'
            - 'Smcinst'
            - 'SmcService'
            - 'SMTPSvc'
            - 'SNAC'
            - 'SntpService'
            - 'Sophos'
            - 'SQ1SafeOLRService'
            - 'SQL Backups'
            - 'SQL Server'
            - 'SQLAgent'
            - 'SQLANYs_Sage_FAS_Fixed_Assets'
            - 'SQLBrowser'
            - 'SQLsafe'
            - 'SQLSERVERAGENT'
            - 'SQLTELEMETRY'
            - 'SQLWriter'
            - 'SSISTELEMETRY130'
            - 'SstpSvc'
            - 'storflt'
            - 'svcGenericHost'
            - 'swc_service'
            - 'swi_filter'
            - 'swi_service'
            - 'swi_update'
            - 'Symantec'
            - 'sysmon'
            - 'TeamViewer'
            - 'Telemetryserver'
            - 'ThreatLockerService'
            - 'TMBMServer'
            - 'TmCCSF'
            - 'TmFilter'
            - 'TMiCRCScanService'
            - 'tmlisten'
            - 'TMLWCSService'
            - 'TmPfw'
            - 'TmPreFilter'
            - 'TmProxy'
            - 'TMSmartRelayService'
            - 'tmusa'
            - 'Tomcat'
            - 'Trend Micro Deep Security Manager'
            - 'TrueKey'
            - 'UFNet'
            - 'UI0Detect'
            - 'UniFi'
            - 'UTODetect'
            - 'vds'
            - 'Veeam'
            - 'VeeamDeploySvc'
            - 'Veritas System Recovery'
            - 'vmic'
            - 'VMTools'
            - 'vmvss'
            - 'VSApiNt'
            - 'VSS'
            - 'W3Svc'
            - 'wbengine'
            - 'WdNisSvc'
            - 'WeanClOudSve'
            - 'Weems JY'
            - 'WinDefend'
            - 'wmms'
            - 'wozyprobackup'
            - 'WPFFontCache_v0400'
            - 'WRSVC'
            - 'wsbexchange'
            - 'WSearch'
            - 'wscsvc'
            - 'Zoolz 2 Service'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Administrators or tools shutting down the services due to upgrade or removal purposes. If you experience some false positive, please consider adding filters to the parent process launching this command and not removing the entry
level: high