Persistence via a Windows Installer

Last updated a month ago on 2025-12-01
Created a year ago on 2024-09-05

About

Identifies when the Windows installer process msiexec.exe creates a new persistence entry via scheduled tasks or startup.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: PersistenceTactic: Defense EvasionData Source: Elastic DefendLanguage: eql
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

Persistence (TA0003)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Defense Evasion (TA0005)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

False Positive Examples
Legitimate scheduled tasks may be created during installation of new software.
License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
logs-endpoint.events.registry-*logs-endpoint.events.file-*
Related Integrations

endpoint(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Query
text code block:
any where host.os.type == "windows" and (process.name : "msiexec.exe" or Effective_process.name : "msiexec.exe") and ( ( event.category == "file" and event.action == "creation" and file.path : ( "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\*", "?:\\programdata\\microsoft\\windows\\start menu\\programs\\startup\\*", "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Startup\\*" ) and not file.path : ( "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\Adobe Acrobat Update Task", "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\HP\\Sure Click\\Sure Click ?.?.??.????", "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\HP\\Sure Click\\Sure Click UI ?.?.??.????", "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\HP\\Sure Click\\Upgrade Repair ?.?.??.????", "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\IntelSURQC-Upgrade-86621605-2a0b-4128-8ffc-15514c247132", "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\IntelSURQC-Upgrade-86621605-2a0b-4128-8ffc-15514c247132-Logon" ) ) or ( event.category == "registry" and event.action == "modification" and registry.data.strings != null and registry.path : ( "H*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\*", "H*\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\*", "H*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\*", "H*\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\*" ) and not registry.data.strings : ( "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\Acronis\\TibMounter\\tib_mounter_monitor.exe", "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\Java\\Java Update\\jusched.exe", "C:\\Program Files\\Citrix\\Secure Access Client\\CtxsDPS.exe --clean-user-installs", "C:\\Program Files\\OpenVPN\\bin\\openvpn-gui.exe", "C:\\Program Files\\Veeam\\Endpoint Backup\\Veeam.EndPoint.Tray.exe -NoControlPanel -CheckNumberOfRunningAgents", "\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Cisco\\Cisco Secure Client\\UI\\csc_ui.exe\" -minimized", "\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Citrix\\ICA Client\\concentr.exe\" /startup", "\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Citrix\\ICA Client\\Receiver\\AnalyticsSrv.exe\" /Startup", "\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Citrix\\ICA Client\\redirector.exe\" /startup", "\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\EPSON Software\\Download Navigator\\EPSDNMON.EXE\"", "\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Jabra\\Direct6\\jabra-direct.exe\" /minimized", "\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\VMware\\VMware Workstation\\vmware-tray.exe\"", "\"C:\\Program Files\\ESET\\ESET Security\\ecmds.exe\" /run /hide /proxy", "\"C:\\Program Files\\iTunes\\iTunesHelper.exe\"", "\"C:\\Program Files\\KeePassXC\\KeePassXC.exe\"", "\"C:\\Program Files\\Palo Alto Networks\\GlobalProtect\\PanGPA.exe\"", "\"C:\\Program Files\\PDF24\\pdf24.exe\"", "\"C:\\Program Files\\VMware\\VMware Tools\\vmtoolsd.exe\" -n vmusr", "\"C:\\PROGRA~2\\Citrix\\DEVICE~1\\Bin64\\DTCLIE~1.EXE\"", "\"%ProgramFiles%\\Teams Installer\\Teams.exe\" --checkInstall --source=default" ) ) )

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Persistence via a Windows Installer in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(external, opens in a new tab or window).