Suspicious Run Key from Download

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects the suspicious RUN keys created by software located in Download or temporary Outlook/Internet Explorer directories

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: Suspicious Run Key from Download
id: 9c5037d1-c568-49b3-88c7-9846a5bdc2be
status: test
description: Detects the suspicious RUN keys created by software located in Download or temporary Outlook/Internet Explorer directories
references:
    - https://app.any.run/tasks/c5bef5b7-f484-4c43-9cf3-d5c5c7839def/
    - https://github.com/HackTricks-wiki/hacktricks/blob/e4c7b21b8f36c97c35b7c622732b38a189ce18f7/src/windows-hardening/windows-local-privilege-escalation/privilege-escalation-with-autorun-binaries.md
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Swachchhanda Shrawan Poude (Nextron Systems)
date: 2019-10-01
modified: 2025-02-17
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1547.001
logsource:
    category: registry_event
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|contains:
            - '\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Outlook_'
            - '\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Olk\Attachments\'
            - '\Downloads\'
            - '\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\'
            - '\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\'
        TargetObject|contains:
            - '\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'
            - '\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'
            - '\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Software installers downloaded and used by users
level: high

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imRegistry
| where (ActingProcessName contains "\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.Outlook_" or ActingProcessName contains "\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Olk\\Attachments\\" or ActingProcessName contains "\\Downloads\\" or ActingProcessName contains "\\Temporary Internet Files\\Content.Outlook\\" or ActingProcessName contains "\\Local Settings\\Temporary Internet Files\\") and (RegistryKey contains "\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run" or RegistryKey contains "\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run" or RegistryKey contains "\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run")

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Software installers downloaded and used by users

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Privilege Escalation
• Tactic: Persistence
• Technique: T1547.001 — T1547.001

References

• https://app.any.run/tasks/c5bef5b7-f484-4c43-9cf3-d5c5c7839def/
• https://github.com/HackTricks-wiki/hacktricks/blob/e4c7b21b8f36c97c35b7c622732b38a189ce18f7/src/windows-hardening/windows-local-privilege-escalation/privilege-escalation-with-autorun-binaries.md
• SigmaHQ Rule