Security Event Logging Disabled via MiniNt Registry Key - Registry Set

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects the addition of the ‘MiniNt’ key to the registry. Upon a reboot, Windows Event Log service will stop writing events. Windows Event Log is a service that collects and stores event logs from the

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: Security Event Logging Disabled via MiniNt Registry Key - Registry Set
id: 8839e550-52d7-4958-9f2f-e13c1e736838
related:
    - id: 1a4bd6af-99ac-4466-b5b2-7b72b4a05462 # Security Event Logging Disabled Via MiniNt Registry Key
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the addition of the 'MiniNt' key to the registry. Upon a reboot, Windows Event Log service will stop writing events.
    Windows Event Log is a service that collects and stores event logs from the operating system and applications. It is an important component of Windows security and auditing.
    Adversary may want to disable this service to disable logging of security events which could be used to detect their activities.
references:
    - https://www.hackingarticles.in/defense-evasion-windows-event-logging-t1562-002/
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-04-09
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1685.001
    - attack.t1112
    - car.2022-03-001
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject: 'HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\MiniNt\(Default)'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Highly Unlikely
level: high

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imRegistry
| where RegistryKey =~ "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet001\\Control\\MiniNt\\(Default)"

KQL (Microsoft 365 Defender)

DeviceRegistryEvents
| where RegistryKey =~ "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet001\\Control\\MiniNt\\(Default)"

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Highly Unlikely

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Persistence
• Technique: T1685.001 — T1685.001
• Technique: T1112 — T1112

References

• https://www.hackingarticles.in/defense-evasion-windows-event-logging-t1562-002/
• SigmaHQ Rule