Potential Persistence Via Netsh Helper DLL - Registry

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects changes to the Netsh registry key to add a new DLL value. This change might be an indication of a potential persistence attempt by adding a malicious Netsh helper

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: Potential Persistence Via Netsh Helper DLL - Registry
id: c90362e0-2df3-4e61-94fe-b37615814cb1
related:
    - id: 56321594-9087-49d9-bf10-524fe8479452
      type: similar
    - id: e7b18879-676e-4a0e-ae18-27039185a8e7
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects changes to the Netsh registry key to add a new DLL value. This change might be an indication of a potential persistence attempt by adding a malicious Netsh helper
references:
    - https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/persistence/t1128-netsh-helper-dll
    - https://pentestlab.blog/2019/10/29/persistence-netsh-helper-dll/
author: Anish Bogati
date: 2023-11-28
modified: 2025-10-08
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.007
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject|contains: '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NetSh'
        Details|contains: '.dll'
    filter_main_poqexec:
        Image: 'C:\Windows\System32\poqexec.exe'
        Details:
            - 'ipmontr.dll'
            - 'iasmontr.dll'
            - 'ippromon.dll'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate helper added by different programs and the OS
level: medium

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imRegistry
| where (RegistryKey contains "\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\NetSh" and RegistryValueData contains ".dll") and (not((ActingProcessName =~ "C:\\Windows\\System32\\poqexec.exe" and (RegistryValueData in~ ("ipmontr.dll", "iasmontr.dll", "ippromon.dll")))))

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Legitimate helper added by different programs and the OS

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Privilege Escalation
• Tactic: Persistence
• Technique: T1546.007 — T1546.007

References

• https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/persistence/t1128-netsh-helper-dll
• https://pentestlab.blog/2019/10/29/persistence-netsh-helper-dll/
• SigmaHQ Rule