T1543: Create or Modify System Process
| View on MITRE ATT&CK | T1543 |
|---|---|
| Tactic(s) | Privilege Escalation, Persistence |
| Associated CAPEC Patterns | Install New Service (CAPEC-550) , Modify Existing Service (CAPEC-551) |
Data from MITRE ATT&CK®:
Adversaries may create or modify system-level processes to repeatedly execute malicious payloads as part of persistence. When operating systems boot up, they can start processes that perform background system functions. On Windows and Linux, these system processes are referred to as services.(Citation: TechNet Services) On macOS, launchd processes known as Launch Daemon and Launch Agent are run to finish system initialization and load user specific parameters.(Citation: AppleDocs Launch Agent Daemons)
Adversaries may install new services, daemons, or agents that can be configured to execute at startup or a repeatable interval in order to establish persistence. Similarly, adversaries may modify existing services, daemons, or agents to achieve the same effect.
Services, daemons, or agents may be created with administrator privileges but executed under root/SYSTEM privileges. Adversaries may leverage this functionality to create or modify system processes in order to escalate privileges.(Citation: OSX Malware Detection)
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Cyber Threat Graph Context
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Reporting on this Technique
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Mitigations for this technique
MITRE ATT&CK Mitigations
Code Signing
Enforce binary and application integrity with digital signature verification to prevent untrusted code from executing.Restrict File and Directory Permissions
Restrict access by setting directory and file permissions that are not specific to users or privileged accounts.User Account Management
Manage the creation, modification, use, and permissions associated to user accounts.Limit Software Installation
Block users or groups from installing unapproved software.Audit
Perform audits or scans of systems, permissions, insecure software, insecure configurations, etc. to identify potential weaknesses.Operating System Configuration
Make configuration changes related to the operating system or a common feature of the operating system that result in system hardening against techniques.Behavior Prevention on Endpoint
Use capabilities to prevent suspicious behavior patterns from occurring on endpoint systems. This could include suspicious process, file, API call, etc. behavior.How to detect this technique
MITRE ATT&CK Data Components
File Creation (File)
Initial construction of a new file (ex: Sysmon EID 11)Windows Registry Key Creation (Windows Registry)
Initial construction of a new Registry Key (ex: Windows EID 4656 or Sysmon EID 12)Windows Registry Key Modification (Windows Registry)
Changes made to a Registry Key and/or Key value (ex: Windows EID 4657 or Sysmon EID 13|14)Process Creation (Process)
The initial construction of an executable managed by the OS, that may involve one or more tasks or threads. (e.g. Win EID 4688, Sysmon EID 1, cmd.exe > net use, etc.)Command Execution (Command)
The execution of a line of text, potentially with arguments, created from program code (e.g. a cmdlet executed via powershell.exe, interactive commands like >dir, shell executions, etc. )Service Creation (Service)
Initial construction of a new service/daemon (ex: Windows EID 4697 or /var/log daemon logs)File Modification (File)
Changes made to a file, or its access permissions and attributes, typically to alter the contents of the targeted file (ex: Windows EID 4670 or Sysmon EID 2)OS API Execution (Process)
Operating system function/method calls executed by a processDriver Load (Driver)
Attaching a driver to either user or kernel-mode of a system (ex: Sysmon EID 6)Service Modification (Service)
Changes made to a service/daemon, such as changes to name, description, and/or start type (ex: Windows EID 7040 or /var/log daemon logs)Sigma Detections for this Technique
Service Installed By Unusual Client - System
Service Installed By Unusual Client - Security
PUA - Process Hacker Driver Load
PUA - System Informer Execution
CodeIntegrity - Blocked Driver Load With Revoked Certificate
PUA - Process Hacker Execution
KrbRelayUp Service Installation
PUA - System Informer Driver Load
CodeIntegrity - Blocked Image/Driver Load For Policy Violation
SP800-53 Controls
See which controls can help protect against this MITRE ATT&CK technique. This is based on mappings to associated SP800-53 controls produced by the MITRE Engenuity Center for Threat-Informed Defense.