Possible UAC Bypass via ComputerDefaults Execution

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Defense Evasion
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects ComputerDefaults.exe spawning a command interpreter or script host child process. WarzoneRAT abuses ComputerDefaults.exe together with a hijacked ms-settings registry handler to bypass User Account Control. Successful abuse grants the malware elevated privileges without a consent prompt.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1548.002 — drag to rearrange

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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)

Possible UAC Bypass via ComputerDefaults Execution

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.

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