huntrule

Malicious UAC Bypass via sdclt Handler Hijack (via registry_set)

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-02
Updated
2026-09-02
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects modification of the HKCU exefile runas isolatedCommand or Folder shell open command keys that sdclt.exe consults, a registry hijack used to auto-elevate an attacker command without a UAC prompt. This sdclt handler hijack is a privilege-escalation technique tracked in the Red Canary Threat Detection Report. Detecting the key change surfaces a UAC-bypass being staged.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1548.002 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious UAC Bypass via control.exe App Paths or Shell Open Command Hijack
Malicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Suspicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Malicious UAC Bypass via explorer.exe NOUACCHECK Argument
Suspicious UAC Bypass via ms-settings Shell Command Hijack (via registry_set)
Suspicious UAC Weakening via ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin Disable by Winos (via registry_set)
Malicious UAC Bypass via sdclt Handler Hijack (via registry_set)
Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 9 related

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