Malicious Kimsuky Run Key Autostart to desktop.ini.bak in Public Folder (via registry_set)

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Priv Esc
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a Run key persistence value pointing to a masqueraded desktop.ini.bak file under C:\Users\Public, a technique used by Kimsuky to autostart its VBS/PowerShell keylogger against Japanese targets. The abuse of a system-looking filename in a world-writable public path is intended to blend persistence into normal-looking artifacts.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1547.001 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Run Key Persistence Executing VBScript as WindowsSecurityCheck

Suspicious RunOnce Persistence Pointing to User AppData

Malicious FalseFont Backdoor Run Key Persistence from AppData (via registry_set)

Malicious Registry Run Key Persistence via AHealthDB by Stately Taurus

Malicious Kimsuky Run Key Autostart to desktop.ini.bak in Public Folder (via registry_set)

Pivot detection · T1547.001 · 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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