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1 | | -name: Windows Change Default File Association |
| 1 | +name: Windows New Default File Association Value Set |
2 | 2 | id: 462d17d8-1f71-11ec-ad07-acde48001122 |
3 | 3 | version: 4 |
4 | 4 | date: '2025-01-15' |
5 | 5 | author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk |
6 | 6 | status: production |
7 | | -type: Anomaly |
8 | | -description: The following analytic detects suspicious registry modifications that change the default file association to execute a malicious payload. It leverages data from the Endpoint data model, specifically monitoring registry paths under "*\\shell\\open\\command\\*" and "*HKCR\\*". This activity is significant because altering default file associations can allow attackers to execute arbitrary scripts or payloads when a user opens a file, leading to potential code execution. If confirmed malicious, this technique can enable attackers to persist on the compromised host and execute further malicious commands, posing a severe threat to the environment. |
| 7 | +type: Hunting |
| 8 | +description: The following analytic detects registry changes to the default file association value. It leverages data from the Endpoint data model, specifically monitoring registry paths under "HKCR\\*\\shell\\open\\command\\*". This activity can be significant because, attackers might alter the default file associations in order to execute arbitrary scripts or payloads when a user opens a file, leading to potential code execution. If confirmed malicious, this technique can enable attackers to persist on the compromised host and execute further malicious commands, posing a severe threat to the environment. |
9 | 9 | data_source: |
10 | | -- Sysmon EventID 12 |
11 | 10 | - Sysmon EventID 13 |
12 | | -search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Registry where Registry.registry_path="*\\shell\\open\\command\\*" Registry.registry_path="*HKCR\\*" by Registry.dest Registry.user Registry.registry_path Registry.registry_key_name Registry.registry_value_name Registry.registry_value_data | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `drop_dm_object_name(Registry)` | `windows_change_default_file_association_filter`' |
| 11 | +search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Registry where Registry.registry_path="*\\shell\\open\\command\\*" Registry.registry_path IN ("*HKCR\\*", "*HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\*") by Registry.dest Registry.user Registry.registry_path Registry.registry_key_name Registry.registry_value_name Registry.registry_value_data | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `drop_dm_object_name(Registry)` | `windows_new_default_file_association_value_set_filter`' |
13 | 12 | how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you must be ingesting data that records registry activity from your hosts to populate the endpoint data model in the registry node. This is typically populated via endpoint detection-and-response product, such as Carbon Black or endpoint data sources, such as Sysmon. The data used for this search is typically generated via logs that report reads and writes to the registry. |
14 | | -known_false_positives: unknown |
| 13 | +known_false_positives: Windows and third party software will create and modify these file associations during installation or upgrades. Additional filters needs to be applied to tune environment specific false positives. |
15 | 14 | references: |
16 | 15 | - https://dmcxblue.gitbook.io/red-team-notes-2-0/red-team-techniques/privilege-escalation/untitled-3/accessibility-features |
17 | 16 | drilldown_searches: |
|
32 | 31 | - Windows Persistence Techniques |
33 | 32 | - Data Destruction |
34 | 33 | asset_type: Endpoint |
35 | | - confidence: 100 |
36 | | - impact: 80 |
37 | | - message: Registry path $registry_path$ was modified, added, or deleted in $dest$. |
| 34 | + confidence: 50 |
| 35 | + impact: 50 |
| 36 | + message: Default file association for $registry_path$ was modified to $registry_value_data$ in $dest$. |
38 | 37 | mitre_attack_id: |
39 | 38 | - T1546.001 |
40 | 39 | - T1546 |
|
58 | 57 | - Registry.registry_path |
59 | 58 | - Registry.registry_key_name |
60 | 59 | - Registry.registry_value_name |
61 | | - risk_score: 80 |
| 60 | + risk_score: 25 |
62 | 61 | security_domain: endpoint |
63 | 62 | tests: |
64 | 63 | - name: True Positive Test |
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