Detect System Service Discovery in Sumo Logic CSE
Adversaries may try to gather information about registered local system services to shape follow-on behaviors. Common techniques include using sc query, tasklist /svc, net start, systemctl --type=service, and WMI queries (win32_service) to enumerate running and installed services. This reconnaissance helps adversaries identify security products to disable, lateral movement opportunities via vulnerable services, and persistence mechanisms already in place. Malware families including Ursnif, Kwampirs, Comnie, Elise, and SLOTHFULMEDIA all leverage service enumeration as part of their post-compromise discovery phase.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Discovery
- Technique
- T1007 System Service Discovery
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1007/
Sumo Detection Query
(_sourceCategory=*windows*sysmon* OR _sourceCategory=*sysmon*)
| where EventCode = "1"
| where (
(Image matches "*\\sc.exe" AND (CommandLine contains "query" OR CommandLine contains " q " OR CommandLine contains " qc "))
OR (Image matches "*\\tasklist.exe" AND toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "/svc")
OR ((Image matches "*\\net.exe" OR Image matches "*\\net1.exe") AND toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "start")
OR (Image matches "*\\wmic.exe" AND (toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "win32_service" OR toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "service get" OR toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "service list"))
OR ((Image matches "*\\powershell.exe" OR Image matches "*\\pwsh.exe") AND (toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "get-service" OR toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "win32_service"))
)
| eval IsScQuery = if(Image matches "*\\sc.exe" AND (CommandLine contains "query" OR CommandLine contains " q " OR CommandLine contains " qc "), 1, 0)
| eval IsTasklistSvc = if(Image matches "*\\tasklist.exe" AND toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "/svc", 1, 0)
| eval IsNetStart = if((Image matches "*\\net.exe" OR Image matches "*\\net1.exe") AND toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "start", 1, 0)
| eval IsWmicService = if(Image matches "*\\wmic.exe" AND (toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "win32_service" OR toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "service get" OR toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "service list"), 1, 0)
| eval IsPSGetService = if((Image matches "*\\powershell.exe" OR Image matches "*\\pwsh.exe") AND (toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "get-service" OR toLowerCase(CommandLine) contains "win32_service"), 1, 0)
| eval DiscoveryScore = IsScQuery + IsTasklistSvc + IsNetStart + IsWmicService + IsPSGetService
| fields _messageTime, Computer, User, Image, CommandLine, ParentImage, ParentCommandLine, IsScQuery, IsTasklistSvc, IsNetStart, IsWmicService, IsPSGetService, DiscoveryScore
| sort by _messageTime descSumo Logic detection for T1007 System Service Discovery using Sysmon EventCode 1 (Process Create) ingested via the Sysmon source category. Matches service enumeration binaries and command-line patterns, then classifies each match with individual Boolean flags and a cumulative DiscoveryScore. Higher scores indicate broader enumeration activity characteristic of automated post-compromise discovery.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- DevOps and infrastructure-as-code pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins) that call net start or sc query to verify service prerequisites before application deployment steps
- Remote monitoring and management agents (ConnectWise Automate, Kaseya VSA, NinjaRMM) that collect Windows service inventory from managed endpoints on a scheduled basis
- Antivirus and endpoint protection products that invoke WMI or PowerShell Get-Service during installation to detect conflicting security software or validate required services
Other platforms for T1007
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 5 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 1Service Enumeration via sc query
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=sc.exe, CommandLine containing 'query type= all state= all'. Sysmon Event ID 11: File Create for %TEMP%\services_sc.txt. Security Event ID 4688 (if process creation auditing with command line enabled).
- Test 2Service Enumeration via tasklist /svc
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=tasklist.exe, CommandLine containing '/svc'. Sysmon Event ID 11: File Create for %TEMP%\services_tasklist.txt. The output maps service names to hosting process PIDs and executable paths.
- Test 3Service Enumeration via net start with output redirect
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=net.exe (or net1.exe), CommandLine containing 'start'. Sysmon Event ID 11: File Create for %TEMP%\df00tech-services.dat. Security Event ID 4688 if process auditing enabled.
- Test 4WMI Win32_Service Enumeration via PowerShell
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=powershell.exe, CommandLine containing 'Get-WmiObject' and 'Win32_Service'. PowerShell ScriptBlock Log Event ID 4104 with full command. WMI Activity Log Event ID 5857 (WMI provider load). No separate child process is created — the WMI query runs in-process.
- Test 5Linux Service Enumeration via systemctl
Expected signal: Auditd execve records for systemctl and service binaries (if auditd configured with execve rules: '-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S execve'). Sysmon for Linux Event ID 1 (if deployed): Process Create with Image=/usr/bin/systemctl and CommandLine containing 'list-units --type=service'. File creation in /tmp for output files.
References (10)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1007/
- https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/under-the-sadbridge-with-gosar
- https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/20-common-tools-techniques-used-by-macos-threat-actors-malware/
- https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/security/breaking-down-linux-gomir-understanding-this-backdoors-ttps.html
- https://www.aquasec.com/blog/threat-alert-kinsing-malware-container-vulnerability/
- https://www.symantec.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/orangeworm-targets-healthcare-us-europe-asia
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/sc-query
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/tasklist
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1007/T1007.md
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/tree/master/rules/windows/process_creation
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