Windows Registry BootExecute Modification

Original Source: [splunk source]
Name:Windows Registry BootExecute Modification
id:eabbac3a-45aa-4659-920f-6b8cff383fb8
version:5
date:2024-12-03
author:Michael Haag, Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status:production
type:TTP
Description:The following analytic detects modifications to the BootExecute registry key, which manages applications and services executed during system boot. It leverages data from the Endpoint.Registry data model, focusing on changes to the registry path "HKLM\\System\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\Session Manager\\BootExecute". This activity is significant because unauthorized changes to this key can indicate attempts to achieve persistence, load malicious code, or tamper with the boot process. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to maintain persistence, execute arbitrary code at boot, or disrupt system operations.
Data_source:
  • -Sysmon EventID 12
  • -Sysmon EventID 13
search:| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Registry WHERE Registry.registry_path="*\\System\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\Session Manager\\BootExecute" BY Registry.dest Registry.registry_path Registry.registry_key_name Registry.registry_value_name Registry.registry_value_data Registry.process_guid, Registry.action
| `drop_dm_object_name(Registry)`
| where isnotnull(registry_value_data)
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`| `windows_registry_bootexecute_modification_filter`


how_to_implement:To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information on Windows Registry that include the name of the path and key responsible for the changes from your endpoints into the `Endpoint` datamodel in the `Registry` node. In addition, confirm the latest CIM App 4.20 or higher is installed and the latest TA for the endpoint product.
known_false_positives:False positives may be present and will need to be filtered.
References:
  -https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/04/11/guidance-for-investigating-attacks-using-cve-2022-21894-the-blacklotus-campaign/
drilldown_searches:
name:'View the detection results for - "$dest$"'
search:'%original_detection_search% | search dest = "$dest$"'
earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$'
latest_offset:'$info_max_time$'
name:'View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$"'
search:'| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$") starthoursago=168 | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
earliest_offset:'$info_min_time$'
latest_offset:'$info_max_time$'
tags:
  analytic_story:
    - 'Windows BootKits'
  asset_type:Endpoint
  atomic_guid:
  confidence:100
  impact:100
  message:The Registry BootExecute value was modified on $dest$ and should be reviewed immediately.
  mitre_attack_id:
    - 'T1542'
    - 'T1547.001'
  observable:
    name:'dest'
    type:'Endpoint'
    - role:
      - 'Victim'
  product:
    - 'Splunk Enterprise'
    - 'Splunk Enterprise Security'
    - 'Splunk Cloud'
  risk_score:100
  required_fields:
    - '_time'
    - 'Registry.dest'
    - 'Registry.registry_path'
    - 'Registry.registry_key_name'
    - 'Registry.registry_value_name'
    - 'Registry.registry_value_data'
    - 'Registry.process_guid'
    - 'Registry.action'
  security_domain:endpoint

tests:
name:'True Positive Test'
 attack_data:
  data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1547.001/atomic_red_team/bootexecute-windows-sysmon.log
  source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
  sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog
manual_test:None

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