Malicious Boot Configuration Tampering via bcdedit [Intel471] #2

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

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

What it detects

This rule detects bcdedit.exe used to delete boot entries or force Safe Mode via safeboot, a defense-evasion and recovery-inhibition technique used by the Iranian-aligned Handala group ahead of destructive impact. Removing boot options or rebooting into Safe Mode disables security tooling and hampers recovery. Legitimate use of bcdedit delete or safeboot outside troubleshooting is rare.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1490 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via vssadmin

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Suspicious Shadow Copy Deletion via WMIC or PowerShell (via process_creation)

Malicious Boot Recovery Tampering via bcdedit (via process_creation)

Malicious Volume Shadow Copy Deletion via BlackSuit Ransomware

Malicious Boot Configuration Tampering to Disable Recovery via BlackSuit Ransomware

Malicious Boot Configuration Tampering via bcdedit [Intel471] #2

Pivot detection · T1490 · 9 related

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