Possible COM Object Hijacking Through TreatAs Subkey - Registry (via registry_set)

title: Possible COM Object Hijacking Through TreatAs Subkey - Registry (via registry_set)
id: 7921de38-1798-55e7-a4e3-bcb7bedcc9be
status: stable
description: This rule detects COM object hijacking via TreatAs subkey
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/015/
    - https://bohops.com/2018/08/18/abusing-the-com-registry-structure-part-2-loading-techniques-for-evasion-and-persistence/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-05-31
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.015
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject|contains|all:
            - 'HKU\'
            - 'Classes\CLSID\'
            - '\TreatAs'
    filter_main_svchost:
        Image: 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_persistence_com_key_linking/info.yml
simulation:
    - type: atomic-red-team
      name: COM hijacking via TreatAs
      technique: T1546.015
      atomic_guid: 33eacead-f117-4863-8eb0-5c6304fbfaa9