BlackByte ransomware Registry Set Persistence and Privilege Changes (Windows)
Alerts on BlackByte-specific Windows registry value changes to DWORD 1 across three predefined keys.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- registry_set
- Author
- frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2022-01-24
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Persistence → Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags Windows registry writes associated with BlackByte ransomware variants by matching three specific policy or system configuration values being set to DWORD 0x00000001. The targeted keys relate to local account token filtering, linked connections, and enabling long paths, which can support privilege escalation and attacker-operational capabilities. It relies on telemetry from Windows registry_set events that include the target registry path, data type/value, and the written DWORD contents.
Reporting behind it
- redcanary.comhttps://redcanary.com/blog/blackbyte-ransomware/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
- trustwave.comhttps://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/blackbyte-ransomware-pt-1-in-depth-analysis/
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2021/Malware/BlackByte/registry_set_win_malware_blackbyte_privesc_registry.yml
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: BlackByte ransomware Registry Set Persistence and Privilege Changes (Windows)
id: 1d3ab098-9e82-4407-bb1f-5be8d4cb9bb9
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows registry writes associated with BlackByte ransomware variants by matching three specific policy or system configuration values being set to DWORD 0x00000001. The targeted keys relate to local account token filtering, linked connections, and enabling long paths, which can support privilege escalation and attacker-operational capabilities. It relies on telemetry from Windows registry_set events that include the target registry path, data type/value, and the written DWORD contents.
references:
- https://redcanary.com/blog/blackbyte-ransomware/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
- https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/blackbyte-ransomware-pt-1-in-depth-analysis/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2021/Malware/BlackByte/registry_set_win_malware_blackbyte_privesc_registry.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-01-24
modified: 2025-10-21
tags:
- attack.persistence
- attack.defense-impairment
- attack.t1112
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
category: registry_set
product: windows
detection:
selection:
TargetObject:
- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy
- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLinkedConnections
- HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\LongPathsEnabled
Details: DWORD (0x00000001)
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 83314318-052a-4c90-a1ad-660ece38d276
type: derived