Modify Registry

Adversaries may interact with the Windows Registry to hide configuration information within Registry keys, remove information as part of cleaning up, or as part of other techniques to aid in persistence and execution.

Access to specific areas of the Registry depends on account permissions, some requiring administrator-level access. The built-in Windows command-line utility Reg may be used for local or remote Registry modification. [1] Other tools may also be used, such as a remote access tool, which may contain functionality to interact with the Registry through the Windows API.

Registry modifications may also include actions to hide keys, such as prepending key names with a null character, which will cause an error and/or be ignored when read via Reg or other utilities using the Win32 API. [2] Adversaries may abuse these pseudo-hidden keys to conceal payloads/commands used to maintain persistence. [3] [4]

The Registry of a remote system may be modified to aid in execution of files as part of lateral movement. It requires the remote Registry service to be running on the target system. [5] Often Valid Accounts are required, along with access to the remote system's SMB/Windows Admin Shares for RPC communication.

ID: T1112
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
Tactic: Defense Evasion
Platforms: Windows
Permissions Required: Administrator, SYSTEM, User
Defense Bypassed: Host forensic analysis
CAPEC ID: CAPEC-203
Contributors: Bartosz Jerzman; David Lu, Tripwire; Travis Smith, Tripwire
Version: 1.2
Created: 31 May 2017
Last Modified: 13 August 2020

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0677 AADInternals

AADInternals can modify registry keys as part of setting a new pass-through authentication agent.[6]

S0045 ADVSTORESHELL

ADVSTORESHELL is capable of setting and deleting Registry values.[7]

S0331 Agent Tesla

Agent Tesla can achieve persistence by modifying Registry key entries.[8]

G0073 APT19

APT19 uses a Port 22 malware variant to modify several Registry keys.[9]

G0050 APT32

APT32's backdoor has modified the Windows Registry to store the backdoor's configuration. [10]

G0082 APT38

APT38 uses a tool called CLEANTOAD that has the capability to modify Registry keys.[11]

G0096 APT41

APT41 used a malware variant called GOODLUCK to modify the registry in order to steal credentials.[12][13]

S0438 Attor

Attor's dispatcher can modify the Run registry key.[14]

S0640 Avaddon

Avaddon modifies several registry keys for persistence and UAC bypass.[15]

S0031 BACKSPACE

BACKSPACE is capable of deleting Registry keys, sub-keys, and values on a victim system.[16]

S0245 BADCALL

BADCALL modifies the firewall Registry key SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfileGloballyOpenPorts\List.[17]

S0239 Bankshot

Bankshot writes data into the Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Pniumj.[18]

S0268 Bisonal

Bisonal has deleted Registry keys to clean up its prior activity.[19]

S0570 BitPaymer

BitPaymer can set values in the Registry to help in execution.[20]

G0108 Blue Mockingbird

Blue Mockingbird has used Windows Registry modifications to specify a DLL payload.[21]

S0348 Cardinal RAT

Cardinal RAT sets HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Load to point to its executable.[22]

S0261 Catchamas

Catchamas creates three Registry keys to establish persistence by adding a Windows Service.[23]

S0572 Caterpillar WebShell

Caterpillar WebShell has a command to modify a Registry key.[24]

S0631 Chaes

Chaes stored its instructions in a config file in the Registry.[25]

S0674 CharmPower

CharmPower can remove persistence-related artifacts from the Registry.[26]

S0023 CHOPSTICK

CHOPSTICK may store RC4 encrypted configuration information in the Windows Registry.[27]

S0660 Clambling

Clambling can set and delete Registry keys.[28]

S0611 Clop

Clop can make modifications to Registry keys.[29]

S0154 Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike can modify Registry values within HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\\Excel\Security\AccessVBOM\ to enable the execution of additional code.[30]

S0126 ComRAT

ComRAT has encrypted and stored its orchestrator code in the Registry as well as a PowerShell script into the WsqmCons Registry key.[31][32]

S0608 Conficker

Conficker adds keys to the Registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services and various other Registry locations.[33][34]

S0488 CrackMapExec

CrackMapExec can create a registry key using wdigest.[35]

S0115 Crimson

Crimson can set a Registry key to determine how long it has been installed and possibly to indicate the version number.[36]

S0527 CSPY Downloader

CSPY Downloader can write to the Registry under the %windir% variable to execute tasks.[37]

S0334 DarkComet

DarkComet adds a Registry value for its installation routine to the Registry Key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System Enable LUA="0" and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DC3_FEXEC.[38][39]

S0673 DarkWatchman

DarkWatchman can store configuration strings, keylogger, and output of components in the Registry.[40]

G0035 Dragonfly

Dragonfly has modified the Registry to perform multiple techniques through the use of Reg.[41]

S0568 EVILNUM

EVILNUM can make modifications to the Regsitry for persistence.[42]

S0343 Exaramel for Windows

Exaramel for Windows adds the configuration to the Registry in XML format.[43]

S0569 Explosive

Explosive has a function to write itself to Registry values.[44]

S0267 FELIXROOT

FELIXROOT deletes the Registry key HKCU\Software\Classes\Applications\rundll32.exe\shell\open.[45]

S0679 Ferocious

Ferocious has the ability to add a Class ID in the current user Registry hive to enable persistence mechanisms.[46]

G0061 FIN8

FIN8 has deleted Registry keys during post compromise cleanup activities.[47]

G0047 Gamaredon Group

Gamaredon Group has removed security settings for VBA macro execution by changing registry values HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\<version>\<product>\Security\VBAWarnings and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\<version>\<product>\Security\AccessVBOM.[48][49]

S0666 Gelsemium

Gelsemium has the ability to store its components in the Registry.[50]

S0032 gh0st RAT

gh0st RAT has altered the InstallTime subkey.[51]

G0078 Gorgon Group

Gorgon Group malware can deactivate security mechanisms in Microsoft Office by editing several keys and values under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\.[52]

S0531 Grandoreiro

Grandoreiro can store its configuration in the Registry at HKCU\Software\ under frequently changing names including %USERNAME% and ToolTech-RM.[53]

S0342 GreyEnergy

GreyEnergy modifies conditions in the Registry and adds keys.[54]

S0697 HermeticWiper

HermeticWiper has the ability to modify Registry keys to disable crash dumps, colors for compressed files, and pop-up information about folders and desktop items.[55][56][57]

G0072 Honeybee

Honeybee uses a batch file that modifies Registry keys to launch a DLL into the svchost.exe process.[58]

S0376 HOPLIGHT

HOPLIGHT has modified Managed Object Format (MOF) files within the Registry to run specific commands and create persistence on the system.[59]

S0203 Hydraq

Hydraq creates a Registry subkey to register its created service, and can also uninstall itself later by deleting this value. Hydraq's backdoor also enables remote attackers to modify and delete subkeys.[60][61]

S0537 HyperStack

HyperStack can add the name of its communication pipe to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters\NullSessionPipes.[62]

S0260 InvisiMole

InvisiMole has a command to create, set, copy, or delete a specified Registry key or value.[63][64]

S0271 KEYMARBLE

KEYMARBLE has a command to create Registry entries for storing data under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WABE\DataPath.[65]

G0094 Kimsuky

Kimsuky has modified Registry settings for default file associations to enable all macros and for persistence.[66][67][68][69]

S0669 KOCTOPUS

KOCTOPUS has added and deleted keys from the Registry.[70]

S0356 KONNI

KONNI has modified registry keys of ComSysApp, Svchost, and xmlProv on the machine to gain persistence.[71][72]

S0397 LoJax

LoJax has modified the Registry key ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\BootExecute’ from ‘autocheck autochk to ‘autocheck autoche .[73]

S0447 Lokibot

Lokibot has modified the Registry as part of its UAC bypass process.[74]

S0576 MegaCortex

MegaCortex has added entries to the Registry for ransom contact information.[75]

S0455 Metamorfo

Metamorfo has written process names to the Registry, disabled IE browser features, deleted Registry keys, and changed the ExtendedUIHoverTime key.[76][77][78][79]

S0256 Mosquito

Mosquito stores configuration values under the Registry key HKCU\Software\Microsoft[dllname] and modifies Registry keys under HKCR\CLSID...\InprocServer32with a path to the launcher.[80]

S0205 Naid

Naid creates Registry entries that store information about a created service and point to a malicious DLL dropped to disk.[81]

S0336 NanoCore

NanoCore has the capability to edit the Registry.[82][83]

S0691 Neoichor

Neoichor has the ability to configure browser settings by modifying Registry entries under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer.[84]

S0210 Nerex

Nerex creates a Registry subkey that registers a new service.[85]

S0457 Netwalker

Netwalker can add the following registry entry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE{{8 random characters}}.[86]

S0198 NETWIRE

NETWIRE stores its configuration file within the Registry.[87]

S0385 njRAT

njRAT can create, delete, or modify a specified Registry key or value.[88][89]

G0116 Operation Wocao

Operation Wocao has enabled Wdigest by changing the registry value from 0 to 1.[90]

S0229 Orz

Orz can perform Registry operations.[91]

S0664 Pandora

Pandora can write an encrypted token to the Registry to enable processing of remote commands.[92]

G0040 Patchwork

A Patchwork payload deletes Resiliency Registry keys created by Microsoft Office applications in an apparent effort to trick users into thinking there were no issues during application runs.[93]

S0158 PHOREAL

PHOREAL is capable of manipulating the Registry.[94]

S0517 Pillowmint

Pillowmint has stored its malicious payload in the registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DRM.[95]

S0501 PipeMon

PipeMon has stored its encrypted payload in the Registry.[96]

S0254 PLAINTEE

PLAINTEE uses reg add to add a Registry Run key for persistence.[97]

S0013 PlugX

PlugX has a module to create, delete, or modify Registry keys.[98]

S0428 PoetRAT

PoetRAT has made registry modifications to alter its behavior upon execution.[99]

S0012 PoisonIvy

PoisonIvy creates a Registry subkey that registers a new system device.[100]

S0518 PolyglotDuke

PolyglotDuke can write encrypted JSON configuration files to the Registry.[101]

S0441 PowerShower

PowerShower has added a registry key so future powershell.exe instances are spawned off-screen by default, and has removed all registry entries that are left behind during the dropper process.[102]

S0583 Pysa

Pysa has modified the registry key "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" and added the ransom note.[103]

S0650 QakBot

QakBot can store its configuration information in a randomly named subkey under HKCU\Software\Microsoft.[104][105]

S0269 QUADAGENT

QUADAGENT modifies an HKCU Registry key to store a session identifier unique to the compromised system as well as a pre-shared key used for encrypting and decrypting C2 communications.[106]

S0262 QuasarRAT

QuasarRAT has a command to edit the Registry on the victim’s machine.[107]

S0662 RCSession

RCSession can write its configuration file to the Registry.[28][108]

S0075 Reg

Reg may be used to interact with and modify the Windows Registry of a local or remote system at the command-line interface.[1]

S0511 RegDuke

RegDuke can store its encryption key in the Registry.[101]

S0019 Regin

Regin appears to have functionality to modify remote Registry information.[109]

S0332 Remcos

Remcos has full control of the Registry, including the ability to modify it.[110]

S0496 REvil

REvil can save encryption parameters and system information to the Registry.[111][112][113][114][115]

S0240 ROKRAT

ROKRAT can modify the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\ registry key so it can bypass the VB object model (VBOM) on a compromised host.[116]

S0090 Rover

Rover has functionality to remove Registry Run key persistence as a cleanup procedure.[117]

S0148 RTM

RTM can delete all Registry entries created during its execution.[118]

S0596 ShadowPad

ShadowPad maintains a configuration block and virtual file system in the Registry.[119]

S0140 Shamoon

Once Shamoon has access to a network share, it enables the RemoteRegistry service on the target system. It will then connect to the system with RegConnectRegistryW and modify the Registry to disable UAC remote restrictions by setting SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy to 1.[120][121][122]

S0444 ShimRat

ShimRat has registered two registry keys for shim databases.[123]

S0589 Sibot

Sibot has installed a second-stage script in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\sibot registry key.[124]

G0091 Silence

Silence can create, delete, or modify a specified Registry key or value.[125]

S0692 SILENTTRINITY

SILENTTRINITY can modify registry keys, including to enable or disable Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).[126]

S0533 SLOTHFULMEDIA

SLOTHFULMEDIA can add, modify, and/or delete registry keys. It has changed the proxy configuration of a victim system by modifying the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap registry.[127]

S0649 SMOKEDHAM

SMOKEDHAM has modified registry keys for persistence, to enable credential caching for credential access, and to facilitate lateral movement via RDP.[128]

S0157 SOUNDBITE

SOUNDBITE is capable of modifying the Registry.[94]

S0142 StreamEx

StreamEx has the ability to modify the Registry.[129]

S0603 Stuxnet

Stuxnet can create registry keys to load driver files.[130]

S0559 SUNBURST

SUNBURST had commands that allow an attacker to write or delete registry keys, and was observed stopping services by setting their HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\[service_name]\Start registry entries to value 4.[131][132] It also deleted previously-created Image File Execution Options (IFEO) Debugger registry values and registry keys related to HTTP proxy to clean up traces of its activity.[133]

S0242 SynAck

SynAck can manipulate Registry keys.[134]

S0663 SysUpdate

SysUpdate can write its configuration file to Software\Classes\scConfig in either HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER.[92]

S0011 Taidoor

Taidoor has the ability to modify the Registry on compromised hosts using RegDeleteValueA and RegCreateKeyExA.[135]

S0467 TajMahal

TajMahal can set the KeepPrintedJobs attribute for configured printers in SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers to enable document stealing.[136]

S0560 TEARDROP

TEARDROP modified the Registry to create a Windows service for itself on a compromised host.[137]

G0027 Threat Group-3390

A Threat Group-3390 tool has created new Registry keys under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\ and HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services.[138][92]

S0665 ThreatNeedle

ThreatNeedle can save its configuration data as the following RC4-encrypted Registry key: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameCon.[139]

S0668 TinyTurla

TinyTurla can set its configuration parameters in the Registry.[140]

S0266 TrickBot

TrickBot can modify registry entries.[141]

G0010 Turla

Turla has used the Registry to store encrypted payloads.[142][143]

S0263 TYPEFRAME

TYPEFRAME can install encrypted configuration data under the Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ShellCompatibility\Applications\laxhost.dll and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrintConfigs.[144]

S0386 Ursnif

Ursnif has used Registry modifications as part of its installation routine.[145][146]

S0476 Valak

Valak has the ability to modify the Registry key HKCU\Software\ApplicationContainer\Appsw64 to store information regarding the C2 server and downloads.[147][148][149]

S0180 Volgmer

Volgmer stores the encoded configuration file in the Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WMI\Security.[150][151]

S0670 WarzoneRAT

WarzoneRAT can create HKCU\Software\Classes\Folder\shell\open\command as a new registry key during privilege escalation.[152][153]

S0612 WastedLocker

WastedLocker can modify registry values within the Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap registry key.[154]

S0579 Waterbear

Waterbear has deleted certain values from the Registry to load a malicious DLL.[155]

G0102 Wizard Spider

Wizard Spider has modified the Registry key HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\WDigest by setting the UseLogonCredential registry value to 1 in order to force credentials to be stored in clear text in memory.[156]

S0330 Zeus Panda

Zeus Panda modifies several Registry keys under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ PhishingFilter\ to disable phishing filters.[157]

S0350 zwShell

zwShell can modify the Registry.[158]

S0412 ZxShell

ZxShell can create Registry entries to enable services to run.[159]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1024 Restrict Registry Permissions

Ensure proper permissions are set for Registry hives to prevent users from modifying keys for system components that may lead to privilege escalation.

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component
DS0017 Command Command Execution
DS0009 Process OS API Execution
Process Creation
DS0024 Windows Registry Windows Registry Key Creation
Windows Registry Key Deletion
Windows Registry Key Modification

Modifications to the Registry are normal and occur throughout typical use of the Windows operating system. Consider enabling Registry Auditing on specific keys to produce an alertable event (Event ID 4657) whenever a value is changed (though this may not trigger when values are created with Reghide or other evasive methods). [160] Changes to Registry entries that load software on Windows startup that do not correlate with known software, patch cycles, etc., are suspicious, as are additions or changes to files within the startup folder. Changes could also include new services and modification of existing binary paths to point to malicious files. If a change to a service-related entry occurs, then it will likely be followed by a local or remote service start or restart to execute the file.

Monitor processes and command-line arguments for actions that could be taken to change or delete information in the Registry. Remote access tools with built-in features may interact directly with the Windows API to gather information. The Registry may also be modified through Windows system management tools such as Windows Management Instrumentation and PowerShell, which may require additional logging features to be configured in the operating system to collect necessary information for analysis.

Monitor for processes, command-line arguments, and API calls associated with concealing Registry keys, such as Reghide. [2] Inspect and cleanup malicious hidden Registry entries using Native Windows API calls and/or tools such as Autoruns [4] and RegDelNull [161].

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