Elastic Security Detection Rules

Potential System Tampering via File Modification

Last updated 7 days ago on 2025-09-01
Created 7 days ago on 2025-09-01

About

Identifies attempts to delete or modify critical files used during the boot process to prevent the system from booting. This may indicate a destructive attack behavior.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Defense EvasionTactic: ImpactData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: SysmonData Source: Microsoft Defender for EndpointData Source: SentinelOneData Source: CrowdstrikeLanguage: eql
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

Impact (TA0040)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Data Destruction (T1485)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Inhibit System Recovery (T1490)(opens in a new tab or window)

License
Elastic License v2(opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
winlogbeat-*logs-endpoint.events.file-*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*endgame-*logs-m365_defender.event-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

windows(opens in a new tab or window)

m365_defender(opens in a new tab or window)

sentinel_one_cloud_funnel(opens in a new tab or window)

crowdstrike(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
file where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type in ("change", "deletion") and
 file.name : ("winload.exe", "winlod.efi", "ntoskrnl.exe", "bootmgr") and
 file.path : ("?:\\Windows\\*", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\Windows\\*") and
 not process.executable : ("?:\\Windows\\System32\\poqexec.exe", "?\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\Windows\\System32\\poqexec.exe")

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Potential System Tampering via File Modification 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(opens in a new tab or window).