Detection: PowerShell Start or Stop Service

Description

The following analytic identifies the use of PowerShell's Start-Service or Stop-Service cmdlets on an endpoint. It leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging to detect these commands. This activity is significant because attackers can manipulate services to disable or stop critical functions, causing system instability or disrupting business operations. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could allow attackers to disable security services, evade detection, or disrupt essential services, leading to potential system downtime and compromised security.

Search

1`powershell` EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText IN ("*start-service*", "*stop-service*") 
2| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by Computer EventCode ScriptBlockText 
3| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
4| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
5| `powershell_start_or_stop_service_filter`

Data Source

Name	Platform	Sourcetype	Source	Supported App
Powershell Script Block Logging 4104	Windows	'xmlwineventlog'	'XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational'	N/A

Macros Used

Annotations

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Implementation

To successfully implement this analytic, you will need to enable PowerShell Script Block Logging on some or all endpoints. Additional setup here https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/UBA/5.0.4.1/GetDataIn/AddPowerShell#Configure_module_logging_for_PowerShell.

Known False Positives

This behavior may be noisy, as these cmdlets are commonly used by system administrators or other legitimate users to manage services. Therefore, it is recommended not to enable this analytic as a direct notable or TTP. Instead, it should be used as part of a broader set of security controls to detect and investigate potential threats.

Associated Analytic Story

• Active Directory Lateral Movement

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

References

• https://learn-powershell.net/2012/01/15/startingstopping-and-restarting-remote-services-with-powershell/

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/start-service?view=powershell-7.3

Detection Testing

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub | Version: 2