Sub-technique of T1484 Domain or Tenant Policy Modification.View on attack.mitre.org
Adversaries may modify Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to subvert the intended discretionary access controls for a domain, usually with the intention of escalating privileges on the domain. Group policy allows for centralized management of user and computer settings in Active Directory (AD). GPOs are containers for group policy settings made up of files stored within a predictable network path `\<DOMAIN>\SYSVOL\<DOMAIN>\Policies\`.
Like other objects in AD, GPOs have access controls associated with them. By default all user accounts in the domain have permission to read GPOs. It is possible to delegate GPO access control permissions, e.g. write access, to specific users or groups in the domain.
Malicious GPO modifications can be used to implement many other malicious behaviors such as Scheduled Task/Job, Disable or Modify Tools, Ingress Tool Transfer, Create Account, Service Execution, and more. Since GPOs can control so many user and machine settings in the AD environment, there are a great number of potential attacks that can stem from this GPO abuse.
For example, publicly available scripts such as New-GPOImmediateTask can be leveraged to automate the creation of a malicious Scheduled Task/Job by modifying GPO settings, in this case modifying <GPO_PATH>\Machine\Preferences\ScheduledTasks\ScheduledTasks.xml. In some cases an adversary might modify specific user rights like SeEnableDelegationPrivilege, set in <GPO_PATH>\MACHINE\Microsoft\Windows NT\SecEdit\GptTmpl.inf, to achieve a subtle AD backdoor with complete control of the domain because the user account under the adversary's control would then be able to modify GPOs.
Rules on DetectionCode tagged with T1484.001.
| Rule | Level | Log source |
|---|---|---|
| Group Policy Abuse for Privilege Addition | medium | windows / NULL |
| Modify Group Policy Settings | medium | windows / process_creation |
| Modify Group Policy Settings - ScriptBlockLogging | medium | windows / ps_script |
| Startup/Logon Script Added to Group Policy Object | medium | windows / NULL |
| Windows Default Domain GPO Modification | medium | windows / NULL |
| Windows Default Domain GPO Modification via GPME | medium | windows / process_creation |
| Rule | Type | Risk | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows AD GPO Deleted | TTP | NULL | Windows Event Log Security 5136 |
| Windows AD GPO Disabled | TTP | NULL | Windows Event Log Security 5136 |
| Windows AD GPO New CSE Addition | TTP | NULL | Windows Event Log Security 5136 |
| Windows AD Suspicious GPO Modification | TTP | NULL | Windows Event Log Security 5136, Windows Event Log Security 5145 |
| Windows Admon Default Group Policy Object Modified | TTP | NULL | Windows Active Directory Admon |
| Windows Admon Group Policy Object Created | TTP | NULL | Windows Active Directory Admon |
| Windows Default Group Policy Object Modified | TTP | NULL | Windows Event Log Security 5136 |
| Windows Default Group Policy Object Modified with GPME | TTP | NULL | Sysmon EventID 1, Windows Event Log Security 4688, CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2 |
| Windows Group Policy Object Created | TTP | NULL | Windows Event Log Security 5136, Windows Event Log Security 5137 |
| Windows Scheduled Task Created in a Group Policy Object | TTP | NULL | Windows Event Log Security 5145 |
| Used by | Procedure example |
|---|---|
| GroupAPT41 | APT41 used scheduled tasks created via Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to deploy ransomware. |
| GroupCinnamon Tempest | Cinnamon Tempest has used Group Policy to deploy batch scripts for ransomware deployment. |
| GroupIndrik Spider | Indrik Spider has used Group Policy Objects to deploy batch scripts. |
| GroupStorm-0501 | Storm-0501 distributed Group Policy Objects to tamper with security products. |
| GroupVOID MANTICORE | VOID MANTICORE had utilized Group Policy logon scripts to distribute the malicious payloads to victim devices through the execution of a batch file. |
| Used by | Procedure example |
|---|---|
| MalwareEgregor | Egregor can modify the GPO to evade detection. |
| ToolEmpire | Empire can use |
| MalwareHermeticWiper | HermeticWiper has the ability to deploy through an infected system's default domain policy. |
| MalwareLockBit 2.0 | LockBit 2.0 can modify Group Policy to disable Windows Defender and to automatically infect devices in Windows domains. |
| MalwareLockBit 3.0 | LockBit 3.0 can enable options for propogation through Group Policy Objects. |
| MalwareMeteor | Meteor can use group policy to push a scheduled task from the AD to all network machines. |
| MalwarePrestige | Prestige has been deployed using the Default Domain Group Policy Object from an Active Directory Domain Controller. |
| MalwareQilin | Qilin has pushed a scheduled task via a Group Policy Object for payload execution. |
| Used by | Procedure example |
|---|---|
| Campaign2022 Ukraine Electric Power Attack | During the 2022 Ukraine Electric Power Attack, Sandworm Team leveraged Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to deploy and execute malware. |
| Campaign2025 Poland Wiper Attacks | During the 2025 Poland Wiper Attacks, the adversaries had leveraged Group Policy Objects to distribute wiper malware to victim devices through a network share. |
| CampaignSharePoint ToolShell Exploitation | During SharePoint ToolShell Exploitation, threat actors, including Storm-2603, modified group policy to enable ransomware distribution. |
Data from MITRE ATT&CK® (Enterprise). ATT&CK® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation.
