Windows Service - T1543.003

(ATT&CK® Technique)

Definition

Adversaries may create or modify Windows services to repeatedly execute malicious payloads as part of persistence. When Windows boots up, it starts programs or applications called services that perform background system functions. Windows service configuration information, including the file path to the service's executable or recovery programs/commands, is stored in the Windows Registry.

D3FEND Inferred Relationships

Browse the D3FEND knowledge graph by clicking on the nodes below.

        graph LR;

     T1543003["Windows Service"] --> |modifies| SystemConfigurationDatabase["System Configuration Database"]; class T1543003 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class SystemConfigurationDatabase ArtifactNode; click SystemConfigurationDatabase href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SystemConfigurationDatabase";
        click T1543003 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1543.003/"; click SystemConfigurationDatabase href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SystemConfigurationDatabase";             SystemConfigurationPermissions["System Configuration Permissions"] -->
          | restricts | SystemConfigurationDatabase["System Configuration Database"];

          SystemConfigurationPermissions["System Configuration Permissions"] -.->
            | may-harden | T1543003["Windows Service"] ;
          class SystemConfigurationPermissions DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SystemConfigurationDatabase ArtifactNode;
          click SystemConfigurationPermissions href "/technique/d3f:SystemConfigurationPermissions";  RestoreDatabase["Restore Database"] -->
          | restores | SystemConfigurationDatabase["System Configuration Database"];

          RestoreDatabase["Restore Database"] -.->
            | may-restore | T1543003["Windows Service"] ;
          class RestoreDatabase DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SystemConfigurationDatabase ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreDatabase href "/technique/d3f:RestoreDatabase";

json

Use of the MITRE D3FEND™ Knowledge Graph and website is subject to the Terms of Use. Use of the MITRE D3FEND website is subject to the MITRE D3FEND Privacy Policy. MITRE D3FEND is funded by the National Security Agency (NSA) Cybersecurity Directorate and managed by the National Security Engineering Center (NSEC) which is operated by The MITRE Corporation. MITRE D3FEND; and the MITRE D3FEND logo are trademarks of The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK® and ATT&CK® are registered trademarks of The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK content is subject to the MITRE ATT&CK terms of use. This software was produced for the U. S. Government under Basic Contract No. W56KGU-18-D-0004, and is subject to the Rights in Noncommercial Computer Software and Noncommercial Computer Software Documentation Clause 252.227-7014 (FEB 2012)
© 2025 The MITRE Corporation.
Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited #20-2338 and #23-1207.