services.exe

  • File Path: C:\windows\system32\services.exe
  • Description: Services and Controller app

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 9E5DCAF803A296D5C7F0185BD3EA4BE4
SHA1 7936BC8C8B9250864F8FD2D5F8FA649E8227391C
SHA256 D992114509A223BD092F6FF9A971F62D4A4715671A46D9FE88097E815BF57418
SHA384 32048EE49B8D0D7E056C913BBDD7C4E1D377405C057CAFDB88ABC5EAD34976AF718625ABF9B1F3DA38042AC4E54B90A5
SHA512 DF21CD4175A35795307D9AD99AD35005877ED96C9F6D4C5A106DE5B61119CBABA72DB03B7DE4FBAD31927478E14C7B63E7E724E44F920296AD93123331699494
SSDEEP 6144:9JFYAv0pGzgM5lpfY+a/anvGJbVN3Jx77pnfiHzgN0:9JFY8goY+aynvsb3Jx77pfiMa

Signature

  • Status: Signature verified.
  • Serial: 330000021DCA208FB2AF45122A00000000021D
  • Thumbprint: 7411F7A4698E876C200B874A1B6201E9296B882B
  • Issuer: CN=Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US
  • Subject: CN=Microsoft Windows Publisher, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US

File Metadata

  • Original Filename: services.exe.mui
  • Product Name: Microsoft Windows Operating System
  • Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
  • File Version: 6.3.9600.16384 (winblue_rtm.130821-1623)
  • Product Version: 6.3.9600.16384
  • Language: English (United States)
  • Legal Copyright: Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Possible Misuse

The following table contains possible examples of services.exe being misused. While services.exe is not inherently malicious, its legitimate functionality can be abused for malicious purposes.

Source Source File Example License
sigma file_event_win_creation_system_file.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma image_load_wsman_provider_image_load.yml - 'C:\Windows\System32\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_access_win_svchost_cred_dump.yml - '*\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_abusing_debug_privilege.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_always_install_elevated_windows_installer.yml ParentImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_apt_hafnium.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_hack_wce.yml ParentImage\|endswith: '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_impacket_lateralization.yml # parent is services.exe DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_impacket_lateralization.yml - '\services.exe' # smbexec DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_meterpreter_or_cobaltstrike_getsystem_service_start.yml ParentImage\|endswith: '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_proc_wrong_parent.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_execution_path_webserver.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_powershell_parent_process.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_service_dir.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_svchost.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_system_exe_anomaly.yml - '\services.exe' DRL 1.0
malware-ioc misp-badiis.json "description": "Adversaries may abuse the Windows service control manager to execute malicious commands or payloads. The Windows service control manager (<code>services.exe</code>) is an interface to manage and manipulate services.(Citation: Microsoft Service Control Manager) The service control manager is accessible to users via GUI components as well as system utilities such as <code>sc.exe</code> and [Net](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0039).\n\n[PsExec](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0029) can also be used to execute commands or payloads via a temporary Windows service created through the service control manager API.(Citation: Russinovich Sysinternals)\n\nAdversaries may leverage these mechanisms to execute malicious content. This can be done by either executing a new or modified service. This technique is the execution used in conjunction with [Windows Service](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003) during service persistence or privilege escalation.", © ESET 2014-2018
atomic-red-team T1569.002.md <blockquote>Adversaries may abuse the Windows service control manager to execute malicious commands or payloads. The Windows service control manager (services.exe) is an interface to manage and manipulate services.(Citation: Microsoft Service Control Manager) The service control manager is accessible to users via GUI components as well as system utilities such as sc.exe and Net. MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
signature-base apt_bronze_butler.yar $s1 = “Services.exe” fullword ascii CC BY-NC 4.0
signature-base apt_win_plugx.yar $x1 = “%WINDIR%\SYSTEM32\SERVICES.EXE” fullword wide CC BY-NC 4.0
signature-base spy_equation_fiveeyes.yar $s0 = “SERVICES.EXE” fullword wide CC BY-NC 4.0

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