Potential Privilege Escalation Attempt Via .Exe.Local Technique

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About the rule

Rule Type

Standard

Rule Description

Detects potential privilege escalation attempt via the creation of the "*.Exe.Local" folder inside the "System32" directory in order to sideload "comctl32.dll"

Severity

Trouble

Rule Requirement

Criteria

Action1: actionname = "File Created or Modified" AND (FILENAME startswith "C:\Windows\System32\logonUI.exe.local,C:\Windows\System32\werFault.exe.local,C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe.local,C:\Windows\System32\narrator.exe.local,C:\Windows\System32\wermgr.exe.local" OR OBJECTNAME startswith "C:\Windows\System32\logonUI.exe.local,C:\Windows\System32\werFault.exe.local,C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe.local,C:\Windows\System32\narrator.exe.local,C:\Windows\System32\wermgr.exe.local") AND (FILENAME endswith "\comctl32.dll" OR OBJECTNAME endswith "\comctl32.dll") select Action1.HOSTNAME,Action1.MESSAGE,Action1.USERNAME,Action1.DOMAIN,Action1.OBJECTNAME,Action1.FILENAME,Action1.PROCESSNAME

Detection

Execution Mode

realtime

Log Sources

Windows

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Subhash P (@pbssubhash)