Detect Services File Permissions Weakness in Sumo Logic CSE
Adversaries may replace service executable binaries by exploiting weak file or directory permissions on service binaries. Windows services run with specific account privileges (often SYSTEM, LocalService, or NetworkService). If the permissions on the service binary or its parent directory allow non-privileged users to write, an adversary can overwrite the binary with a malicious payload. When the service starts (on reboot or manually), the malicious binary executes at the service's privilege level. BlackEnergy malware used this technique to replace disabled driver service binaries and then re-enable the service for persistence. PowerSploit's Get-ModifiableServiceFile discovers exploitable service binaries.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Technique
- T1574 Hijack Execution Flow
- Sub-technique
- T1574.010 Services File Permissions Weakness
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/010/
Sumo Detection Query
_sourceCategory=*sysmon*
| json auto
| where EventCode in ("1","11")
| eval FilePath = if(EventCode = "1", Image, TargetFilename)
| where matches(lower(FilePath), "\\temp\\")
| where matches(lower(FilePath), "(\.exe|\.dll)$")
| eval IsInstaller = if(EventCode = "1" and matches(lower(Image), "(setup|install|msiexec|update)"), "true", "false")
| eval IsBinaryCreate = if(EventCode = "11", "true", "false")
| where User != "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" and !isNull(User)
| eval RiskScore = if(IsInstaller = "true" or IsBinaryCreate = "true", 75, 40)
| stats values(EventCode) AS EventTypes, values(FilePath) AS Files, count AS EventCount by _sourceHost, User, _timeslice 10m
| where EventCount > 1
| sort by EventCount descSumo Logic detection for Services File Permissions Weakness. Detects modification of service binary files by non-SYSTEM, non-installer accounts. The query correlates file modification events on EXE/DLL files in service installation directories with the Services
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Multi-stage installers that legitimately modify components in TEMP during installation
- Enterprise deployment solutions staging installer binaries in temporary locations
- Self-updating applications that patch their own binaries before running them
- Software that extracts and immediately executes components from archives
Other platforms for T1574.010
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 1Check Service Binary Permissions for Exploitation
Expected signal: PowerShell process creation with WMI Win32_Service query and file ACL enumeration. Sysmon Event ID 19 may log the WMI query. Multiple file read operations to check ACLs on service binaries.
- Test 2Simulate Service Binary Replacement (Hash-Verified)
Expected signal: Service creation event (Security Event ID 7045). File modification event (Sysmon EventCode 11) for test_svc.exe after replacement. Hash change detectable via Sysmon event which includes SHA256.
- Test 3Verify Service Permission Using AccessChk
Expected signal: Process creation for accesschk.exe or icacls.exe with Program Files as target. These tools inspect file ACLs without modifying them. Security audit logs may capture the file access depending on auditing configuration.
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