title: Service Reconnaissance Via Wmic.EXE
id: 76f55eaa-d27f-4213-9d45-7b0e4b60bbae
related:
    - id: 68bcd73b-37ef-49cb-95fc-edc809730be6
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    An adversary might use WMI to check if a certain remote service is running on a remote device.
    When the test completes, a service information will be displayed on the screen if it exists.
    A common feedback message is that "No instance(s) Available" if the service queried is not running.
    A common error message is "Node - (provided IP or default) ERROR Description =The RPC server is unavailable" if the provided remote host is unreachable
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1047/T1047.md
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wmic
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/cimwin32prov/win32-service
author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-02-14
modified: 2026-01-07
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1047
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\WMIC.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: 'service'
    filter_main_manipulation:
        # Duplicate with 0b7163dc-7eee-4960-af17-c0cd517f92da
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'stopservice'
            - 'startservice'
    filter_main_win32_methods:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'Change'
            - 'Create'
            - 'Delete'
            - 'PauseService'
            - 'ResumeService'
            - 'SetSecurityDescriptor'
            - 'StartService'
            - 'StopService'
            - 'UserControlService'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium
simulation:
    - type: atomic-red-team
      name: WMI Reconnaissance List Remote Services
      technique: T1047
      atomic_guid: 0fd48ef7-d890-4e93-a533-f7dedd5191d3
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wmic_recon_service/info.yml