Browse Rules

Registry Edit from Screensaver

Adversaries may use screensaver files to run malicious code. This analytic triggers on suspicious edits to the screensaver registry keys, which dictate which .scr file the screensaver runs.

Sensitive File Access - System Admin Utilities

Identifies an unusual process accessing common third party system utilities sensitive files and registries. Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.

Windows Deleted Registry By A Non Critical Process File Path

The following analytic detects the deletion of registry keys by non-critical processes. It leverages Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) data, focusing on registry deletion events and correlating them with processes not typically associated with system or program files. This activity is significant as it may indicate malware, such as the Double Zero wiper, attempting to evade defenses or cause destructive payload impacts. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could lead to significant system d

Windows Modify Registry ValleyRat PWN Reg Entry

The following analytic detects modifications to the Windows Registry specifically targeting `.pwn` file associations related to the ValleyRAT malware. ValleyRAT may create or alter registry entries to associate `.pwn` files with malicious processes, allowing it to execute harmful scripts or commands when these files are opened. By monitoring for unusual changes in registry keys linked to `.pwn` extensions, this detection enables security analysts to identify potential ValleyRAT infection attempt

Suspicious Rundll32 Setupapi.dll Activity

setupapi.dll library provide InstallHinfSection function for processing INF files. INF file may contain instructions allowing to create values in the registry, modify files and install drivers. This technique could be used to obtain persistence via modifying one of Run or RunOnce registry keys, run process or use other DLLs chain calls (see references) InstallHinfSection function in setupapi.dll calls runonce.exe executable regardless of actual content of INF file.

Suspicious Rundll32 Setupapi.dll Activity

setupapi.dll library provide InstallHinfSection function for processing INF files. INF file may contain instructions allowing to create values in the registry, modify files and install drivers. This technique could be used to obtain persistence via modifying one of Run or RunOnce registry keys, run process or use other DLLs chain calls (see references) InstallHinfSection function in setupapi.dll calls runonce.exe executable regardless of actual content of INF file.

Windows Modify Registry Utilize ProgIDs

The following analytic detects modifications to the Windows Registry specifically targeting Programmatic Identifier associations to bypass User Account Control (UAC) Windows OS feature. ValleyRAT may create or alter registry entries to targetted progIDs like `.pwn` files with malicious processes, allowing it to execute harmful scripts or commands when these files are opened. By monitoring for unusual changes in registry keys linked to ProgIDs, this detection enables security analysts to identify

Suspicious VBoxDrvInst.exe Parameters

Detect VBoxDrvInst.exe run with parameters allowing processing INF file. This allows to create values in the registry and install drivers. For example one could use this technique to obtain persistence via modifying one of Run or RunOnce registry keys

Suspicious VBoxDrvInst.exe Parameters

Detect VBoxDrvInst.exe run with parameters allowing processing INF file. This allows to create values in the registry and install drivers. For example one could use this technique to obtain persistence via modifying one of Run or RunOnce registry keys

Registry or File Modification from Suspicious Memory

Identifies the modification of file or registry to set persistence or evade defense and from a call stack pointing to an unbacked memory region or Microsoft Visual Basics DLLs. Adversaries may use this technique to maintain persistence or evade defense from an injected process.

Suspicious VBoxDrvInst.exe Parameters

Detect VBoxDrvInst.exe run with parameters allowing processing INF file. This allows to create values in the registry and install drivers. For example one could use this technique to obtain persistence via modifying one of Run or RunOnce registry keys

Windows SnappyBee Create Test Registry

The following analytic detects modifications to the Windows registry under `SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Test`, a location rarely used by legitimate applications in a production environment. Monitoring this key is crucial, as adversaries may create or alter values here for monitoring update of itself file path, updated configuration file, or system mark compromised. The detection leverages **Sysmon Event ID 13** (Registry Value Set) to identify unauthorized changes. Analysts should investigate processes a

Suspicious Image File Execution Options Modification

The Debugger and SilentProcessExit registry keys can allow an adversary to intercept the execution of files, causing a different process to be executed. This functionality can be abused by an adversary to establish persistence.

Windows Event Triggered Image File Execution Options Injection

The following analytic identifies the creation or modification of Image File Execution Options (IFEO) registry keys, detected via EventCode 3000 in the Application channel. This detection leverages Windows Event Logs to monitor for process names added to IFEO under specific registry paths. This activity is significant as it can indicate attempts to set traps for process monitoring or debugging, often used by attackers for persistence or evasion. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attack

PDF File Created By RegEdit.EXE

Detects the creation of a file with the ".pdf" extension by the "RegEdit.exe" process. This indicates that a user is trying to print/save a registry key as a PDF in order to potentially extract sensitive information and bypass defenses.

PDF File Created By RegEdit.EXE

Detects the creation of a file with the ".pdf" extension by the "RegEdit.exe" process. This indicates that a user is trying to print/save a registry key as a PDF in order to potentially extract sensitive information and bypass defenses.

Modification of Default Startup Folder in the Registry Key 'Common Startup'

Detection of the modification of the registry key `Common Startup` located in `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\` and `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\`. When a user logs on, any files located in the Startup Folder are launched. Attackers may modify these folders with other files in order to evade detection set on these default folders. This detection focuses on EventIDs 4688 and 1 fo

Suspicious Path In Keyboard Layout IME File Registry Value

Detects usage of Windows Input Method Editor (IME) keyboard layout feature, which allows an attacker to load a DLL into the process after sending the WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST message. Before doing this, the client needs to register the DLL in a special registry key that is assumed to implement this keyboard layout. This registry key should store a value named "Ime File" with a DLL path. IMEs are essential for languages that have more characters than can be represented on a standard keyboard, su

Uncommon Extension In Keyboard Layout IME File Registry Value

Detects usage of Windows Input Method Editor (IME) keyboard layout feature, which allows an attacker to load a DLL into the process after sending the WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST message. Before doing this, the client needs to register the DLL in a special registry key that is assumed to implement this keyboard layout. This registry key should store a value named "Ime File" with a DLL path. IMEs are essential for languages that have more characters than can be represented on a standard keyboard, su

Suspicious Path In Keyboard Layout IME File Registry Value

Detects usage of Windows Input Method Editor (IME) keyboard layout feature, which allows an attacker to load a DLL into the process after sending the WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST message. Before doing this, the client needs to register the DLL in a special registry key that is assumed to implement this keyboard layout. This registry key should store a value named "Ime File" with a DLL path. IMEs are essential for languages that have more characters than can be represented on a standard keyboard, su

Uncommon Extension In Keyboard Layout IME File Registry Value

Detects usage of Windows Input Method Editor (IME) keyboard layout feature, which allows an attacker to load a DLL into the process after sending the WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST message. Before doing this, the client needs to register the DLL in a special registry key that is assumed to implement this keyboard layout. This registry key should store a value named "Ime File" with a DLL path. IMEs are essential for languages that have more characters than can be represented on a standard keyboard, su

Suspicious Path In Keyboard Layout IME File Registry Value

Detects usage of Windows Input Method Editor (IME) keyboard layout feature, which allows an attacker to load a DLL into the process after sending the WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST message. Before doing this, the client needs to register the DLL in a special registry key that is assumed to implement this keyboard layout. This registry key should store a value named "Ime File" with a DLL path. IMEs are essential for languages that have more characters than can be represented on a standard keyboard, su

Uncommon Extension In Keyboard Layout IME File Registry Value

Detects usage of Windows Input Method Editor (IME) keyboard layout feature, which allows an attacker to load a DLL into the process after sending the WM_INPUTLANGCHANGEREQUEST message. Before doing this, the client needs to register the DLL in a special registry key that is assumed to implement this keyboard layout. This registry key should store a value named "Ime File" with a DLL path. IMEs are essential for languages that have more characters than can be represented on a standard keyboard, su

Credentials in Files & Registry

Adversaries may search the Windows Registry on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials for credential access. This can be accomplished using the query functionality of the reg.exe system utility, by looking for keys and values that contain strings such as "password". In addition, adversaries may use toolkits such as [PowerSploit](https://powersploit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) in order to dump credentials from various applications such as IIS.Accordingly, this analytic looks for inv

Potential Persistence via Mandatory User Profile

Detects the creation or modification of a mandatory user profile hive (NTUSER.MAN) by an unusual process. Adversaries may abuse Windows mandatory profiles by dropping a malicious NTUSER.MAN file containing pre-populated persistence-related registry keys. On the next user logon, Windows loads the registry hive from NTUSER.MAN, causing embedded persistence mechanisms to activate without directly modifying the live registry. This technique can evade traditional registry-based monitoring and indicat