{
  "node_id": "mitre-attack-t1685-005-clear-windows-event-logs",
  "title": "MITRE ATT&CK T1685.005: Clear Windows Event Logs (Enterprise Tactic TA0112 - Defense Impairment)",
  "domain": "Cybersecurity",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-06",
  "bluf": "MITRE ATT&CK T1685.005 (Clear Windows Event Logs) is an Enterprise Defense Impairment technique. Adversaries may clear Windows Event Logs to hide the activity of an intrusion. Windows Event Logs are a record of a computer's alerts and notifications. There are three system-defined sources of events: System, Application, and Security, with five event types: Error, Warning, Information, Success Audit, and Failure Audit. With administrator privileges, the event logs can be cleared with the following utility commands: * `wevtutil cl system` * `wevtutil cl application` * `wevtutil cl security` These logs may also be cleared through other mechanisms, such as the event viewer GUI or PowerShell. For example, adversaries may use the PowerShell command `Remove-EventLog -LogName Security` to delete the Security EventLog and after reboot, disable future logging. Note: events may still be generated... Affected platforms: Windows. Sub-technique of ATT&CK T1685. ATT&CK-mapped mitigations: M1029 Remote Data Storage, M1041 Encrypt Sensitive Information, M1022 Restrict File and Directory Permissions.",
  "paywall": {
    "status": "LOCKED",
    "unlock_cost_usd": "0.01",
    "skyfire_id": "41779894-ece2-4163-9761-b3b1b76e19b0"
  },
  "crosswalks": {
    "_available_keys": [
      "nist_framework",
      "iso_standard",
      "industry_mapping",
      "mitre_d3fend"
    ],
    "_note": "Full crosswalk values included in vault response"
  },
  "dependencies": [
    "nist-cybersecurity-framework-2-0",
    "iso-27001-2022",
    "nist-sp-800-53-r5",
    "cis-controls-v8",
    "mitre-attack-framework-v14"
  ],
  "primary_citations_count": 7
}