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Uncommon Registry Persistence Change

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Uncommon Registry Persistence Change

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Detects changes to registry persistence keys that are not commonly used or modified by legitimate programs. This could be an indication of an adversary’s attempt to persist in a stealthy manner.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

logs-endpoint.events.*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5 minutes

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

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

https://www.microsoftpressstore.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2762082&seqNum=2

Tags:

Elastic
Host
Windows
Threat Detection
Persistence

Version: 100 (version history)

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.11.0

Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 8.5.0

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

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registry where /* uncomment once stable
length(registry.data.strings) > 0 and */ registry.path : (
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Terminal Serve
r\\Install\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\*",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Terminal Serve
r\\Install\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Runonce\\*",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Windows\\Load",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Windows\\Run",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Windows\\IconServiceLib",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Shell",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Shell",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\AppSetup",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Taskman",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Userinit",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\VmApplet", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Micros
oft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\*", "HKLM
\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\System\\Shel
l", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scrip
ts\\Logoff\\Script", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windo
ws\\System\\Scripts\\Logon\\Script", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\
Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scripts\\Shutdown\\Script", "HKLM\\S
OFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scripts\\Startup\\Scrip
t", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion
\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\*", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microso
ft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\System\\Shell", "HKEY_USE
RS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scripts\\Logoff
\\Script", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Window
s\\System\\Scripts\\Logon\\Script", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Po
licies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scripts\\Shutdown\\Script",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Script
s\\Startup\\Script", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Active
Setup\\Installed Components\\*\\ShellComponent",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows CE
Services\\AutoStartOnConnect\\MicrosoftActiveSync",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows CE
Services\\AutoStartOnDisconnect\\MicrosoftActiveSync",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Ctf\\LangBarAddin\\*\\FilePath",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Exec",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Script",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Command Processor\\Autorun",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Ctf\\LangBarAddin\\*\\FilePath",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet
Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Exec",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet
Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Script",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Command Processor\\Autorun",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Image File
Execution Options\\*\\VerifierDlls",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\GpExtensions\\*\\DllName",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\SafeBoot\\AlternateShell",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Terminal
Server\\Wds\\rdpwd\\StartupPrograms",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Terminal
Server\\WinStations\\RDP-Tcp\\InitialProgram",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Session Manager\\BootExecute",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Session Manager\\SetupExecute",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Session Manager\\Execute",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Session
Manager\\S0InitialCommand",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\ServiceControlManagerExtension",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\BootVerificationProgram\\ImagePat
h", "HKLM\\SYSTEM\\Setup\\CmdLine",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\Environment\\UserInitMprLogonScript") and not
registry.data.strings : ("C:\\Windows\\system32\\userinit.exe",
"cmd.exe", "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\*.exe",
"C:\\Program Files\\*.exe") and not (process.name : "rundll32.exe"
and registry.path : "*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Internet
Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Script") and not process.executable :
("C:\\Windows\\System32\\msiexec.exe",
"C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64\\msiexec.exe",
"C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows
Defender\\Platform\\*\\MsMpEng.exe",
"C:\\Program Files\\*.exe", "C:\\Program
Files (x86)\\*.exe")

Threat mapping

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Framework: MITRE ATT&CK^TM

Tactic:
- Name: Persistence
- ID: TA0003
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/
Technique:
- Name: Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
- ID: T1547
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547/
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/

Rule version history

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Version 100 (8.5.0 release)

Updated query, changed from:

registry where /* uncomment once stable
length(registry.data.strings) > 0 and */ registry.path : (
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Terminal Serve
r\\Install\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\*",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Terminal Serve
r\\Install\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Runonce\\*",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Windows\\Load",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Windows\\Run",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Windows\\IconServiceLib",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Shell",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Shell",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\AppSetup",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Taskman",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\Userinit",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\VmApplet", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Micros
oft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\*", "HKLM
\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\System\\Shel
l", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scrip
ts\\Logoff\\Script", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windo
ws\\System\\Scripts\\Logon\\Script", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\
Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scripts\\Shutdown\\Script", "HKLM\\S
OFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scripts\\Startup\\Scrip
t", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion
\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\*", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microso
ft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\System\\Shell", "HKEY_USE
RS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scripts\\Logoff
\\Script", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Window
s\\System\\Scripts\\Logon\\Script", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Po
licies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Scripts\\Shutdown\\Script",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\System\\Script
s\\Startup\\Script", "HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Active
Setup\\Installed Components\\*\\ShellComponent",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows CE
Services\\AutoStartOnConnect\\MicrosoftActiveSync",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows CE
Services\\AutoStartOnDisconnect\\MicrosoftActiveSync",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Ctf\\LangBarAddin\\*\\FilePath",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Exec",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Script",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Command Processor\\Autorun",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Ctf\\LangBarAddin\\*\\FilePath",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet
Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Exec",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Internet
Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Script",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Command Processor\\Autorun",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Image File
Execution Options\\*\\VerifierDlls",
"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows
NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\GpExtensions\\*\\DllName",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\SafeBoot\\AlternateShell",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Terminal
Server\\Wds\\rdpwd\\StartupPrograms",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Terminal
Server\\WinStations\\RDP-Tcp\\InitialProgram",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Session Manager\\BootExecute",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Session Manager\\SetupExecute",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Session Manager\\Execute",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\Session
Manager\\S0InitialCommand",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\ServiceControlManagerExtension",
"HKLM\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet*\\Control\\BootVerificationProgram\\ImagePat
h", "HKLM\\SYSTEM\\Setup\\CmdLine",
"HKEY_USERS\\*\\Environment\\UserInitMprLogonScript") and not
registry.data.strings : ("C:\\Windows\\system32\\userinit.exe",
"cmd.exe", "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\*.exe",
"C:\\Program Files\\*.exe") and not (process.name : "rundll32.exe"
and registry.path : "*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Internet
Explorer\\Extensions\\*\\Script") and not process.executable :
("C:\\Windows\\System32\\msiexec.exe",
"C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64\\msiexec.exe",
"C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows
Defender\\Platform\\*\\MsMpEng.exe",
"C:\\Program Files\\*.exe", "C:\\Program
Files (x86)\\*.exe")

Version 10 (8.4.0 release)

Formatting only

Version 9 (8.3.0 release)

Formatting only

Version 7 (8.2.0 release)

Formatting only

Version 5 (8.1.0 release)

Formatting only

Version 4 (7.16.0 release)

Formatting only

Version 3 (7.12.0 release)

Formatting only

Version 2 (7.11.2 release)

Formatting only

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