> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/suspicious-time-provider-registered.md).

# Suspicious time provider registered

### Synopsis

| Field                | Value                                                         |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period    | 14 Days                                                       |
| Training Period      | 30 Days                                                       |
| Test Period          | N/A (single event)                                            |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day                                                         |
| Required Data        | XDR Agent                                                     |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Persistence (TA0003)                                          |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Time Providers (T1547.003) |
| Severity             | Medium                                                        |

### Description

The endpoint time provider has been tampered, this change may be used to gain persistence on the host by loading libraries into the time management service.

### Attacker's Goals

Gain persistence using the legitimate Windows time provider mechanism, which loads libraries into Windows services.

### Investigative actions

* Verify if the registered library is malicious.
* Check if the software performing the installation is a malicious binary.
* Check for any network activity from a "svchost.exe -k LocalService" process that seems suspicious.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>Suspicious time provider registered manually by reg.exe</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                         |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003)                                          |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Time Providers (T1547.003) |
| Severity          | High                                                          |

**Description**

The endpoint time provider has been tampered, this change may be used to gain persistence on the host by loading libraries into the time management service.

**Attacker's Goals**

Gain persistence using the legitimate Windows time provider mechanism, which loads libraries into Windows services.

**Investigative actions**

* Verify if the registered library is malicious.
* Check if the software performing the installation is a malicious binary.
* Check for any network activity from a "svchost.exe -k LocalService" process that seems suspicious.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Suspicious time provider registered using an uncommon provider name</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                         |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003)                                          |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Time Providers (T1547.003) |
| Severity          | High                                                          |

**Description**

The endpoint time provider has been tampered, this change may be used to gain persistence on the host by loading libraries into the time management service.

**Attacker's Goals**

Gain persistence using the legitimate Windows time provider mechanism, which loads libraries into Windows services.

**Investigative actions**

* Verify if the registered library is malicious.
* Check if the software performing the installation is a malicious binary.
* Check for any network activity from a "svchost.exe -k LocalService" process that seems suspicious.

</details>


---

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