Malicious BitLocker Encryption With Shadow Copy Removal via manage-bde (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
- T1486Data Encrypted for Impact
- T1490Inhibit System Recovery

What it detects

This rule detects manage-bde being used to turn on BitLocker encryption while removing volume shadow copies in a single operation. This tradecraft is used to weaponise the built-in BitLocker feature for ransomware encryption while destroying recovery data. Encrypting volumes and deleting shadow copies denies access to systems and inhibits restoration to extort the victim.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via PowerShell WMI by Akira Ransomware

Malicious BitLocker Encryption With Shadow Copy Removal via manage-bde (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1486 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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