Possible Persistence Through Shim Database Change (via registry_set)

title: Possible Persistence Through Shim Database Change (via registry_set)
id: c214d897-f64c-5ac2-8fe3-60019f7163b5
status: stable
description: This rule detects threat actors may establish persistence and/or elevate privileges by running hostile content triggered by application shims. The Microsoft Windows Application Compatibility Infrastructure/Framework (Application Shim) was created to enable for backward compatibility of software as the operating system codebase changes over time
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/011/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1546.011/T1546.011.md#atomic-test-3---registry-key-creation-andor-modification-events-for-sdb
    - https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2017/05/fin7-shim-databases-persistence.html
    - https://andreafortuna.org/2018/11/12/process-injection-and-persistence-using-application-shimming/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-06-21
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.011
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject|contains:
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\InstalledSDB\'
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Custom\'
    filter_main_empty_string:
        Details: ''
    filter_main_empty_value:
        Details: '(Empty)'
    filter_main_null:
        Details:
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium