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Persistence via Hidden Run Key Detected

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Persistence via Hidden Run Key Detected

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Identifies a persistence mechanism that utilizes the NtSetValueKey native API to create a hidden (null terminated) registry key. An adversary may use this method to hide from system utilities such as the Registry Editor (regedit).

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

logs-endpoint.events.*
winlogbeat-*
logs-windows.*

Severity: high

Risk score: 73

Runs every: 5 minutes

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

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

Tags:

Elastic
Host
Windows
Threat Detection
Persistence

Version: 7 (version history)

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.11.0

Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 8.4.0

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Investigation guide

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Rule query

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/* Registry Path ends with backslash */ registry where /*
length(registry.data.strings) > 0 and */ registry.path :
("HKEY_USERS\\*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\",
"HKU\\*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\",
"HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\",
"HKLM\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\
\", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Cu
rrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\", "HKU\\*\\S
oftware\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\
", "HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersi
on\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\")

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/

Rule version history

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Version 7 (8.4.0 release)

Updated query, changed from:

/* Registry Path ends with backslash */ registry where /*
length(registry.data.strings) > 0 and */ registry.path :
("HKEY_USERS\\*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\",
"HKU\\*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\",
"HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\",
"HKLM\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\
\", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\C
urrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\", "HKU\\*\\
Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\
\", "HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVers
ion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\")

Version 5 (8.2.0 release)

Formatting only

Version 4 (8.1.0 release)

Updated query, changed from:

/* Registry Path ends with backslash */ registry where /*
length(registry.data.strings) > 0 and */ registry.path :
("HKEY_USERS\\*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\",
"HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\\",
"HKLM\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\
\", "HKEY_USERS\\*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\C
urrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\", "HKLM\\S
oftware\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\
")

Version 3 (7.12.0 release)

Formatting only

Version 2 (7.11.2 release)

Formatting only

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