Detect Microsoft Windows Information Disclosure (CVE-2026-20805) in IBM QRadar
Detects exploitation of CVE-2026-20805, a Microsoft Windows information disclosure vulnerability (CWE-200) that allows attackers to access sensitive memory or kernel data. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Successful exploitation may expose credentials, memory contents, or system information that enables privilege escalation or lateral movement.
MITRE ATT&CK
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
DATEFORMAT(starttime, 'YYYY-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') AS event_time,
logsourcename(logsourceid) AS log_source,
username,
"sourceip",
"destinationip",
QIDNAME(qid) AS event_name,
"category",
CATEGORYNAME(category) AS category_name,
"EventID",
"CommandLine",
"ProcessName",
"IntegrityLevel",
COUNT(*) AS event_count
FROM events
WHERE
LOGSOURCETYPENAME(devicetype) IN ('Microsoft Windows Security Event Log', 'Microsoft Sysmon')
AND starttime > NOW() - 86400000
AND (
("EventID" IN ('4663', '4656') AND
("ObjectName" ILIKE '%lsass%' OR "ObjectName" ILIKE '%\\SAM' OR "ObjectName" ILIKE '%\\SECURITY' OR "ObjectName" ILIKE '%ntds.dit%'))
OR
("CommandLine" ILIKE '%NtQuerySystemInformation%' OR
"CommandLine" ILIKE '%ZwQuerySystemInformation%' OR
"CommandLine" ILIKE '%ReadProcessMemory%')
)
AND ("IntegrityLevel" ILIKE 'Low' OR "IntegrityLevel" ILIKE 'Medium' OR "IntegrityLevel" IS NULL)
GROUP BY event_time, log_source, username, sourceip, destinationip, event_name, category, category_name, EventID, CommandLine, ProcessName, IntegrityLevel
HAVING COUNT(*) >= 1
ORDER BY event_count DESC
LIMIT 500QRadar AQL query detecting CVE-2026-20805 information disclosure indicators by correlating Windows Security Event Log and Sysmon events for low-integrity processes accessing sensitive credential stores or invoking kernel enumeration APIs.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Security and compliance scanning software performing authorized audits of sensitive file access
- Endpoint detection and response products with low-level kernel hooks for monitoring
- Enterprise backup software accessing NTDS or SAM files with appropriate permissions
- Legitimate administrative automation scripts querying system state information
Other platforms for CVE-2026-20805
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1NtQuerySystemInformation via PowerShell P/Invoke
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 (Process Create) for powershell.exe; Windows Event ID 4688 if process command line auditing is enabled; EDR process telemetry capturing the PowerShell invocation with P/Invoke patterns.
- Test 2LSASS Handle Open with VM_READ Access
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 10 (ProcessAccess) with TargetImage=lsass.exe, GrantedAccess=0x0010 (PROCESS_VM_READ), SourceImage=powershell.exe; Windows Security Event ID 4656 for handle request to LSASS process object.
- Test 3Sensitive Registry Hive Access from Low Integrity Context
Expected signal: Windows Security Event ID 4663 with ObjectName containing SECURITY hive path; Sysmon Event ID 1 for process creation with low integrity level token; Event ID 4656 for registry key open with sensitive access mask.
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