Suspicious Windows Trace ETW Session Tamper Via Logman.EXE — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2021-02-11 / 2023-02-21.

{
  "category": "process_creation",
  "product": "windows"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 44fd5e2f773bd6ea70090b8ef5c017433e8b70a73078573f085922a7346d7d6a

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

title: Suspicious Windows Trace ETW Session Tamper Via Logman.EXE
id: cd1f961e-0b96-436b-b7c6-38da4583ec00
status: test
description: Detects the execution of "logman" utility in order to disable or delete Windows trace sessions
references:
    - https://twitter.com/0gtweet/status/1359039665232306183?s=21
    - https://ss64.com/nt/logman.html
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-02-11
modified: 2023-02-21
tags:
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1685
    - attack.t1685.005
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\logman.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'Logman.exe'
    selection_action:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'stop '
            - 'delete '
    selection_service:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'Circular Kernel Context Logger'
            - 'EventLog-' # Cover multiple traces starting with EventLog-*
            - 'SYSMON TRACE'
            - 'SysmonDnsEtwSession'
    condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate deactivation by administrative staff
    - Installer tools that disable services, e.g. before log collection agent installation
level: high

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Legitimate deactivation by administrative staff
• Installer tools that disable services, e.g. before log collection agent installation

Source references

• https://twitter.com/0gtweet/status/1359039665232306183?s=21
• https://ss64.com/nt/logman.html