TA0002 · EXECUTION
System Services
Creating or abusing services (including PsExec-style service installs) to execute payloads as SYSTEM.
Detect it with
Event ID 7045 (service installed) with a random-looking service name or a binary path in ADMIN$.
Why it matters on shift
System Services is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve execution. Recognising it in telemetry lets you name the technique in your ticket and pivot to what came before and after.
What to look for next
After execution, the next tactic is usually Persistence. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
3 sub-techniques
How it shows up in practice
- T1569.001
Launchctl
Adversaries may abuse launchctl to execute commands or programs. Launchctl interfaces with launchd, the service management framework for macOS.
- T1569.002
Service Execution
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.
- T1569.003
Systemctl
Adversaries may abuse systemctl to execute commands or programs. Systemctl is the primary interface for systemd, the Linux init system and service manager.
Kill-chain context