Modify User Shell Folders Startup Value

Title: Modify User Shell Folders Startup Value
Status: test
Description:Detect modification of the User Shell Folders registry values for Startup or Common Startup which could indicate persistence attempts. Attackers may modify User Shell Folders registry keys to point to malicious executables or scripts that will be executed during startup. This technique is often used to maintain persistence on a compromised system by ensuring that the malicious payload is executed automatically.
References:
  -https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/9e5b12c4912c07562aec7500447b11fa3e17e254/atomics/T1547.001/T1547.001.md
  -https://www.welivesecurity.com/en/eset-research/muddywater-snakes-riverbank/
Author: frack113, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
Date: 2022-10-01
modified:2026-01-05
Tags:

• -'attack.persistence'
• -'attack.privilege-escalation'
• -'attack.t1547.001'

Logsource:

• product: windows
• category: registry_set

Detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|contains:
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders'
      -'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders'

    TargetObject|endswith:
      -'\Common Startup'
      -'\Startup'

  filter_main_details_null:
    Details: 'None'
  filter_main_programdata_startup:
    Details|contains:
      -'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup'
      -'%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup'

  filter_main_userprofile_startup_1:
    Details|contains:
      -'%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup'
      -'%%USERPROFILE%%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup'

  filter_main_userprofile_startup_2:
    Details|contains|all:
      -'C:\Users\'
      -'\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup'

  condition:selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
Falsepositives:
  -Unknown
Level: high