Malicious MicrosoftUpdate Run Key Persistence via Axios Compromise

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Priv Esc
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Defense Evasion
- T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of a CurrentVersion Run value named MicrosoftUpdate that launches the renamed wt.exe interpreter as used by the Windows variant of the Axios supply chain RAT. The benign looking value name paired with a ProgramData interpreter path indicates masquerading persistence for the backdoor.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious MicrosoftUpdate Run Key Persistence via Axios Compromise

Pivot detection · T1036.005 · 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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