Elastic Security Detection Rules

UAC Bypass Attempt via Elevated COM Internet Explorer Add-On Installer

Last updated 9 months ago on 2025-03-20
Created 5 years ago on 2020-11-03

About

Identifies User Account Control (UAC) bypass attempts by abusing an elevated COM Interface to launch a malicious program. Attackers may attempt to bypass UAC to stealthily execute code with elevated permissions.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Privilege EscalationTactic: Defense EvasionTactic: ExecutionData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: SysmonData Source: Microsoft Defender for EndpointData Source: SentinelOneLanguage: eql
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

Privilege Escalation (TA0004)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism (T1548)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

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

↳ Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism (T1548)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Execution (TA0002)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Inter-Process Communication (T1559)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

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
winlogbeat-*logs-endpoint.events.process-*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*endgame-*logs-m365_defender.event-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*
Related Integrations

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

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

m365_defender(external, opens in a new tab or window)

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

Query
text code block:
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
 process.executable : "C:\\*\\AppData\\*\\Temp\\IDC*.tmp\\*.exe" and
 process.parent.name : "ieinstal.exe" and process.parent.args : "-Embedding"

 /* uncomment once in winlogbeat */
 /* and not (process.code_signature.subject_name == "Microsoft Corporation" and process.code_signature.trusted == true) */

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect UAC Bypass Attempt via Elevated COM Internet Explorer Add-On 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).