IE Change Domain Zone

Hunt Hypothesis

Hides the file extension through modification of the registry

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: IE Change Domain Zone
id: 45e112d0-7759-4c2a-aa36-9f8fb79d3393
related:
    - id: d88d0ab2-e696-4d40-a2ed-9790064e66b3
      type: derived
status: test
description: Hides the file extension through modification of the registry
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1112/T1112.md#atomic-test-4---add-domain-to-trusted-sites-zone
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/developer/browsers/security-privacy/ie-security-zones-registry-entries
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-22
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1137
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_domains:
        TargetObject|contains: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\
    filter:
        Details:
            - DWORD (0x00000000) # My Computer
            - DWORD (0x00000001) # Local Intranet Zone
            - '(Empty)'
    condition: selection_domains and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Administrative scripts
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_change_security_zones/info.yml
simulation:
    - type: atomic-red-team
      name: Add Domain to Trusted Sites Zone
      technique: T1112
      atomic_guid: cf447677-5a4e-4937-a82c-e47d254afd57

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imRegistry
| where RegistryKey endswith "\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Internet Settings\\ZoneMap\\Domains*" and (not((RegistryValueData in~ ("DWORD (0x00000000)", "DWORD (0x00000001)", "(Empty)"))))

KQL (Microsoft 365 Defender)

DeviceRegistryEvents
| where RegistryKey endswith "\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Internet Settings\\ZoneMap\\Domains*" and (not((RegistryValueData in~ ("DWORD (0x00000000)", "DWORD (0x00000001)", "(Empty)"))))

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Administrative scripts

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Persistence
• Technique: T1137 — T1137

References

• https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1112/T1112.md#atomic-test-4---add-domain-to-trusted-sites-zone
• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/developer/browsers/security-privacy/ie-security-zones-registry-entries
• SigmaHQ Rule