Disable Internal Tools or Feature in Registry

Title: Disable Internal Tools or Feature in Registry
Status: test
Description:Detects registry modifications that change features of internal Windows tools (malware like Agent Tesla uses this technique)
References:
  -https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1112/T1112.md
  -https://www.mandiant.com/resources/unc2165-shifts-to-evade-sanctions
  -https://blogs.vmware.com/security/2022/11/batloader-the-evasive-downloader-malware.html
  -https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/detections/pum-optional-nodispbackgroundpage
  -https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/detections/pum-optional-nodispcpl
  -https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/7bde840c7e8c36dce4c3bac937bcf39f36a6f118001b406bfbbc25451ce44fb4/
Author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), CrimpSec
Date: 2022-03-18
modified:2025-06-04
Tags:

• -'attack.persistence'
• -'attack.defense-impairment'
• -'attack.t1112'

Logsource:

• category: registry_set
• product: windows

Detection:
  selection_set_1:
    TargetObject|endswith:
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisableCMD'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoControlPanel'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoRun'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\StartMenuLogOff'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableChangePassword'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableLockWorkstation'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableRegistryTools'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableTaskmgr'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\NoDispBackgroundPage'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\NoDispCPL'
      -'SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\DisableNotificationCenter'
      -'SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\DisableCMD'

    Details: 'DWORD (0x00000001)'
  selection_set_0:
    TargetObject|endswith:
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin'
      -'Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\InactivityTimeoutSecs'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\shutdownwithoutlogon'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PushNotifications\ToastEnabled'
      -'SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Storage\Write Protection'
      -'SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies\WriteProtect'

    Details: 'DWORD (0x00000000)'
  condition:1 of selection_set_*
Falsepositives:
  -Legitimate admin script
Level: medium