Office Test Registry Persistence

Identifies the modification of the Microsoft Office "Office Test" Registry key, a registry location that can be used to specify a DLL which will be executed every time an MS Office application is started. Attackers can abuse this to gain persistence on a compromised host.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

logs-endpoint.events.registry-*
logs-m365_defender.event-*
endgame-*
logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 5m

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-technical-walkthrough-office-test-persistence-method-used-in-recent-sofacy-attacks/

Tags:

Domain: Endpoint
OS: Windows
Use Case: Threat Detection
Tactic: Persistence
Tactic: Defense Evasion
Data Source: Elastic Defend
Data Source: Elastic Endgame
Data Source: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Data Source: SentinelOne

Version: 103

Rule authors:

Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

edit

registry where host.os.type == "windows" and event.action != "deletion" and
    registry.path : "*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Office Test\\Special\\Perf\\*"

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK^TM

Tactic:
- Name: Persistence
- ID: TA0003
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/
Technique:
- Name: Office Application Startup
- ID: T1137
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1137/
Sub-technique:
- Name: Office Test
- ID: T1137.002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1137/002/
Tactic:
- Name: Defense Evasion
- ID: TA0005
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/
Technique:
- Name: Modify Registry
- ID: T1112
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112/

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