---
title: Service Path Modification
description: Identifies attempts to modify a service path by an unusual process. Attackers may attempt to modify existing services for persistence or privilege escalation...
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/security/prebuilt-rules/rules_building_block/defense_evasion_service_path_registry
products:
  - Elastic Security
---

# Service Path Modification
Identifies attempts to modify a service path by an unusual process. Attackers may attempt to modify existing services
for persistence or privilege escalation.
**Rule type**: eql
**Rule indices**:
- logs-endpoint.events.registry-*
- endgame-*
- logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
- winlogbeat-*

**Rule Severity**: low
**Risk Score**: 21
**Runs every**: 60m
**Searches indices from**: `now-119m`
**Maximum alerts per execution**: 100
**References**:
**Tags**:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Windows
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Defense Evasion
- Data Source: Elastic Endgame
- Data Source: Elastic Defend
- Rule Type: BBR
- Data Source: Sysmon
- Rule Type: Event Correlation (EQL)
- Platform: Windows

**Version**: 108
**Rule authors**:
- Elastic

**Rule license**: Elastic License v2

## Rule Query

```eql
registry where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "change" and
  registry.path : (
    "HKLM\\SYSTEM\\*ControlSet*\\Services\\*\\ImagePath",
    "\\REGISTRY\\MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\*ControlSet*\\Services\\*\\ImagePath"
  ) and not (
    process.executable : (
      "?:\\Program Files\\*.exe",
      "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\*.exe",
      "?:\\Windows\\System32\\services.exe",
      "?:\\Windows\\WinSxS\\*"
    )
  )
```

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Defense Evasion
  - Id: TA0005
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Modify Registry
  - Id: T1112
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112/)

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Persistence
  - Id: TA0003
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Create or Modify System Process
  - Id: T1543
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/)
- Sub Technique:
  - Name: Windows Service
  - Id: T1543.003
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/)

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Privilege Escalation
  - Id: TA0004
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Create or Modify System Process
  - Id: T1543
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/)
- Sub Technique:
  - Name: Windows Service
  - Id: T1543.003
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/003/)