Malicious Boot Configuration Set to Safe Mode with Networking via bcdedit
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-09-14
- Updated
- 2026-09-14
ATT&CK techniques
ImpactRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
What it detects
This rule detects bcdedit.exe configuring the system to boot into Safe Mode with Networking, an inhibit-recovery step used by Qilin ransomware to run its encryptor while defenses are inactive. Modifying boot configuration to force Safe Mode is a hallmark of ransomware preparing to encrypt with security tooling disabled.
Reporting behind it
- cybereason.comhttps://www.cybereason.com/blog/threat-alert-qilin-seizes-control
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1490/
- nccgroup.comhttps://www.nccgroup.com/research/unmasking-lorenz-ransomware-a-dive-into-recent-tactics-techniques-and-procedures/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/009/
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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