Query: alert when Detects the usage of SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe to disable Windows Defender. SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe is a legitim
Matching passage: Sigma rule: Detects the usage of SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe to disable Windows Defender. SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe is a legitim. Logsource: windows / process_creation. Rule: title: Windows Defender Disabled Via SystemSettingsAdminFlows.EXE id: da92713f-ca2d-4fab-8320-098013d3f43a status: experimental description: 'Detects the usage of SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe to disable Windows Defender. SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe is a legitimate Windows component used for administrative configuration tasks. However, attackers may abuse it to disable Windows Defender as part of their attack chain, especially in the context of ransomware or other malware campaigns. ' references: - https://thedfirreport.com/2026/02/23/apache-activemq-exploit-leads-to-lockbit-ransomware/ - https://www.huntress.com/blog/lolbin-to-inc-ransomware tags: - attack.defense-impairment - attack.t1685 author: Chirag Damani (KPMG India), Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) date: 2026-07-01 logsource: category: process_creation product: windows detection: selection_ssaf_img: - Image|endswith: \SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe - OriginalFileName: SystemSettingsAdminFlows.EXE selection_ssaf_cli: CommandLine|contains: defender selection_cli_enable_opt: CommandLine|contains: - 'RTP ' - 'RealTimeProtection ' - 'DisableEnhancedNotifications ' selection_cli_enable_value: CommandLine|contains: '1' selection_cli_disable_opt: CommandLine|contains: - 'SubmitSamplesConsent ' - 'SpyNetReporting ' - 'DisableCDPUserAuthPolicy ' selection_cli_disable_value: CommandLine|contains: '0' condition: all of selection_ssaf_* and (all of selection_cli_enable_* or all of selection_cli_disable_*) falsepositives: - Legitimate turn off of Windows Defender by the technical users or administrators for troubleshooting or other purposes. level: high regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_systemsettingsadminflows_defender_disable/info.yml
Near-miss passage: Sigma rule: Detects execution of "csc.exe" to compile .NET code. Attackers often leverage this to compile code on the fly and use it. Logsource: windows / process_creation. Rule: title: Dynamic .NET Compilation Via Csc.EXE id: dcaa3f04-70c3-427a-80b4-b870d73c94c4 status: test description: Detects execution of "csc.exe" to compile .NET code. Attackers often leverage this to compile code on the fly and use it in other stages. references: - https://securityboulevard.com/2019/08/agent-tesla-evading-edr-by-removing-api-hooks/ - https://www.clearskysec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MuddyWater-Operations-in-Lebanon-and-Oman.pdf - https://app.any.run/tasks/c6993447-d1d8-414e-b856-675325e5aa09/ - https://twitter.com/gN3mes1s/status/1206874118282448897 - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/b27a3cb25025161d49ac861cb216db68c46a3537/atomics/T1027.004/T1027.004.md#atomic-test-1---compile-after-delivery-using-cscexe author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), X__Junior (Nextron Systems) date: 2019-08-24 modified: 2026-03-23 tags: - attack.stealth - attack.t1027.004 logsource: category: process_creation product: windows detection: selection_img: Image|endswith: \csc.exe selection_susp_location_1: CommandLine|contains: - :\Perflogs\ - :\Users\Public\ - \AppData\Local\Temp\ - \Temporary Internet - \Windows\Temp\ selection_susp_location_2: - CommandLine|contains|all: - :\Users\ - \Favorites\ - CommandLine|contains|all: - :\Users\ - \Favourites\ - CommandLine|contains|all: - :\Users\ - \Contacts\ - CommandLine|contains|all: - :\Users\ - \Pictures\ selection_susp_location_3: CommandLine|re: (?:[Pp]rogram[Dd]ata|%(?:[Ll]ocal)?[Aa]pp[Dd]ata%|\\[Aa]pp[Dd]ata\\(?:[Ll]ocal(?:[Ll]ow)?|[Rr]oaming))\\[^\\]{1,256}$ filter_main_programfiles: ParentImage|startswith: - C:\Program Files (x86)\ - C:\Program Files\ filter_main_sdiagnhost: ParentImage: C:\Windows\System32\sdiagnhost.exe filter_main_w3p: ParentImage: C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\w3wp.exe filter_optional_chocolatey: ParentImage: - C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\choco.exe - C:\ProgramData\chocolatey\tools\shimgen.exe filter_optional_defender: ParentCommandLine|contains: \ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection filter_optional_ansible: ParentCommandLine|contains: - JwB7ACIAZgBhAGkAbABlAGQAIgA6AHQAcgB1AGUALAAiAG0AcwBnACIAOgAiAEEAbgBzAGkAYgBsAGUAIAByAGUAcQB1AGkAcgBlAHMAIABQAG8AdwBlAHIAUwBoAGUAbABsACAAdgAzAC4AMAAgAG8AcgAgAG4AZQB3AGUAcgAiAH0AJw - cAewAiAGYAYQBpAGwAZQBkACIAOgB0AHIAdQBlACwAIgBtAHMAZwAiADoAIgBBAG4AcwBpAGIAbABlACAAcgBlAHEAdQBpAHIAZQBzACAAUABvAHcAZQByAFMAaABlAGwAbAAgAHYAMwAuADAAIABvAHIAIABuAGUAdwBlAHIAIgB9ACcA - nAHsAIgBmAGEAaQBsAGUAZAAiADoAdAByAHUAZQAsACIAbQBzAGcA