Elastic Security Detection Rules

Clearing Windows Event Logs

Last updated 10 days ago on 2025-02-21
Created 5 years ago on 2020-02-18

About

Identifies attempts to clear or disable Windows event log stores using Windows wevetutil command. This is often done by attackers in an attempt to evade detection or destroy forensic evidence on a system.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Defense EvasionData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: Windows Security Event LogsData Source: Microsoft Defender for EndpointData Source: SysmonData Source: SentinelOneData Source: CrowdstrikeLanguage: eql
Severity
low
Risk Score
21
MITRE ATT&CK™

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

↳ Indicator Removal (T1070)(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
endgame-*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*logs-endpoint.events.process-*logs-m365_defender.event-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*logs-system.security*logs-windows.forwarded*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*winlogbeat-*
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

windows(opens in a new tab or window)

system(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
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
(
  (
    (process.name : "wevtutil.exe" or ?process.pe.original_file_name == "wevtutil.exe") and
    process.args : ("/e:false", "cl", "clear-log")
  ) or
  (
    (
      process.name : ("powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe", "powershell_ise.exe") or
      ?process.pe.original_file_name in ("powershell.exe", "pwsh.dll", "powershell_ise.exe")
    ) and
    process.args : "Clear-EventLog"
  )
)

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Clearing Windows Event Logs 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).