Killing Windows Event Log
Created the Tuesday 27 July 2021. Updated 1 year, 2 months ago.
Killing the Windows Event Log is a technique used by malware to prevent security professionals from detecting and analyzing it. Svchost.exe is a process that manages services on Windows operating systems.
By grouping multiple services into a single process, Svchost.exe conserves computing resources and reduces resource consumption. However, this also means that Svchost.exe manages the Event Log service, which is responsible for collecting logs on the system.
By targeting the Event Log service and killing the threads responsible for it, malware can prevent the system from collecting logs, making it more difficult for security professionals to detect and analyze the malware.
Technique Identifier
Technique Tags
Windows Event Log Anti-forensic Svchost.exe Services Process Event Log service Threads
Featured Windows API's
Below, you will find a list of the most commonly used Windows API's that are currently utilized by malware authors for current evasion technique. This list is meant to provide an overview of the API's that are commonly used for this purpose. If there are any API's that you feel should be included on this list, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to update the list and provide any additional information or documentation that may be helpful.
- SuspendThread
- OpenThread
- OpenProcess
- CreateToolhelp32Snapshot
- Thread32First
- Thread32Next
- GetProcAddress
Code Snippets
Detection Rules
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.