Registry Modification of MS-settings Protocol Handler

testmedium

log source: windows · process_creationauthor frack113, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)date 2021-12-20

description

What this is, in brief.

Detects registry modifications to the 'ms-settings' protocol handler, which is frequently targeted for UAC bypass or persistence. Attackers can modify this registry to execute malicious code with elevated privileges by hijacking the command execution path.

rule source (YAML)

title: Registry Modification of MS-settings Protocol Handler
id: dd3ee8cc-f751-41c9-ba53-5a32ed47e563
related:
    - id: 152f3630-77c1-4284-bcc0-4cc68ab2f6e7
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects registry modifications to the 'ms-settings' protocol handler, which is frequently targeted for UAC bypass or persistence.
    Attackers can modify this registry to execute malicious code with elevated privileges by hijacking the command execution path.
references:
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/12/13/diavol-ransomware/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/25/f/water-curse.html
author: frack113, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-12-20
modified: 2026-01-24
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1548.002
    - attack.t1546.001
    - attack.t1112
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_reg_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\reg.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'reg.exe'
    selection_pwsh_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'powershell.exe'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
    selection_reg_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: 'add'
    selection_pwsh_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'New-ItemProperty'
            - 'Set-ItemProperty'
            - 'ni '
            - 'sp '
    selection_cli_key:
        CommandLine|contains: '\ms-settings\shell\open\command'
    condition: (all of selection_reg_* or all of selection_pwsh_*) and selection_cli_key
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

detects techniques (3)

ATT&CK techniques this enables or maps to.

references

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.