Suspicious Use of PsLogList

title: Suspicious Use of PsLogList
id: aae1243f-d8af-40d8-ab20-33fc6d0c55bc
status: test
description: Detects usage of the PsLogList utility to dump event log in order to extract admin accounts and perform account discovery or delete events logs
references:
    - https://research.nccgroup.com/2021/01/12/abusing-cloud-services-to-fly-under-the-radar/
    - https://www.cybereason.com/blog/deadringer-exposing-chinese-threat-actors-targeting-major-telcos
    - https://github.com/3CORESec/MAL-CL/tree/master/Descriptors/Sysinternals/PsLogList
    - https://twitter.com/EricaZelic/status/1614075109827874817
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-12-18
modified: 2026-06-29
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1087
    - attack.t1087.001
    - attack.t1087.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - OriginalFileName: 'psloglist.exe'
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\psloglist.exe'
              - '\psloglist64.exe'
              - '\psloglist64a.exe'
    selection_cli_eventlog:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' security'
            - ' application'
            - ' system'
    selection_cli_flags:
        CommandLine|contains|windash:
            - ' -d'
            - ' -x'
            - ' -s'
            - ' -c' # Clear event log after displaying
            - ' -g' # Export an event log as an evt file.
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Another tool that uses the command line switches of PsLogList
    - Legitimate use of PsLogList by an administrator
level: medium