Run Once Task Configuration in Registry

Hunt Hypothesis

Rule to detect the configuration of Run Once registry key. Configured payload can be run by runonce.exe /AlternateShellStartup

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: Run Once Task Configuration in Registry
id: c74d7efc-8826-45d9-b8bb-f04fac9e4eff
status: test
description: Rule to detect the configuration of Run Once registry key. Configured payload can be run by runonce.exe /AlternateShellStartup
references:
    - https://twitter.com/pabraeken/status/990717080805789697
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Runonce/
author: 'Avneet Singh @v3t0_, oscd.community'
date: 2020-11-15
modified: 2024-03-25
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1112
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: registry_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject|contains: '\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components'
        TargetObject|endswith: '\StubPath'
    filter_optional_chrome:
        Details|contains|all:
            - 'C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\'
            - '\Installer\chrmstp.exe" --configure-user-settings --verbose-logging --system-level' # In some cases the Details will contain an additional flag called "--channel=stable" at the end
    filter_optional_edge:
        Details|contains:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Edge\Application\'
        Details|endswith: '\Installer\setup.exe" --configure-user-settings --verbose-logging --system-level --msedge --channel=stable'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate modification of the registry key by legitimate program
level: medium

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imRegistry
| where (RegistryKey contains "\\Microsoft\\Active Setup\\Installed Components" and RegistryKey endswith "\\StubPath") and (not(((RegistryValueData contains "C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Chrome\\Application\\" and RegistryValueData contains "\\Installer\\chrmstp.exe\" --configure-user-settings --verbose-logging --system-level") or ((RegistryValueData contains "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft\\Edge\\Application\\" or RegistryValueData contains "C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft\\Edge\\Application\\") and RegistryValueData endswith "\\Installer\\setup.exe\" --configure-user-settings --verbose-logging --system-level --msedge --channel=stable"))))

KQL (Microsoft 365 Defender)

DeviceRegistryEvents
| where (RegistryKey contains "\\Microsoft\\Active Setup\\Installed Components" and RegistryKey endswith "\\StubPath") and (not(((RegistryValueData contains "C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Chrome\\Application\\" and RegistryValueData contains "\\Installer\\chrmstp.exe\" --configure-user-settings --verbose-logging --system-level") or ((RegistryValueData contains "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft\\Edge\\Application\\" or RegistryValueData contains "C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft\\Edge\\Application\\") and RegistryValueData endswith "\\Installer\\setup.exe\" --configure-user-settings --verbose-logging --system-level --msedge --channel=stable"))))

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Legitimate modification of the registry key by legitimate program

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Persistence
• Technique: T1112 — T1112

References

• https://twitter.com/pabraeken/status/990717080805789697
• https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Runonce/
• SigmaHQ Rule