Impair Defenses: Disable Windows Event Logging
Created the Tuesday 07 February 2023. Updated 1 month, 3 weeks ago.
Adversaries may disable Windows event logging to limit data that can be leveraged for detections and audits. Windows event logs record user and system activity such as login attempts, process creation, and much more. This data is used by security tools and analysts to generate detections.
The EventLog service maintains event logs from various system components and applications. By default, the service automatically starts when a system powers on. An audit policy, maintained by the Local Security Policy (secpol.msc), defines which system events the EventLog service logs. Security audit policy settings can be changed by running secpol.msc, then navigating to Security Settings\Local Policies\Audit Policy for basic audit policy settings or Security Settings\Advanced Audit Policy Configuration for advanced audit policy settings. auditpol.exe may also be used to set audit policies.
Adversaries may target system-wide logging or just that of a particular application. For example, the EventLog service may be disabled using the following PowerShell line: Stop-Service -Name EventLog. Additionally, adversaries may use auditpol and its sub-commands in a command prompt to disable auditing or clear the audit policy. To enable or disable a specified setting or audit category, adversaries may use the /success or /failure parameters. For example, auditpol /set /category:"Account Logon" /success:disable /failure:disable turns off auditing for the Account Logon category. To clear the audit policy, adversaries may run the following lines: auditpol /clear /y or auditpol /remove /allusers.
Technique Identifier
Technique Tags
Defense Evasion event disabling EventLog service Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) auditpol.exe /success parameters /failure parameters Stop-Service -Name EventLog auditpol /clear /y auditpol /remove /allusers Security Settings\Local Policies\Audit Policy Security Settings\Advanced Audit Policy Configuration APT29
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Additional Resources
External Links
The resources provided below are associated links that will give you even more detailed information and research on current evasion technique. It is important to note that, while these resources may be helpful, it is important to exercise caution when following external links. As always, be careful when clicking on links from unknown sources, as they may lead to malicious content.
- Impair Defenses: Disable Windows Event Logging, Sub-technique T1562.002 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®
- https://thedfirreport.com/2021/11/15/exchange-exploit-leads-to-domain-wide-ransomware/
- Deep dive into the Solorigate second-stage activation: From SUNBURST to TEARDROP and Raindrop | Microsoft Security Blog