Potentially Suspicious Desktop Background Change Via Reg.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Potentially Suspicious Desktop Background Change Via Reg.EXE (via process_creation)
id: 7973f2d4-b2af-5d9d-94e5-d339161c01df
status: stable
description: This rule detects the execution of "reg.exe" to alter registry keys that would replace the user's desktop background. This is a common method used by malware to change the desktop background to a ransom note or other image.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1491/001/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112/
    - https://www.attackiq.com/2023/09/20/emulating-rhysida/
    - https://research.checkpoint.com/2023/the-rhysida-ransomware-activity-analysis-and-ties-to-vice-society/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/h/an-overview-of-the-new-rhysida-ransomware.html
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/a864282fea5a536510ae86c77ce46f7827687783628e4f2ceb5bf2c41b8cd3c6/behavior
    - https://admx.help/?Category=Windows_10_2016&Policy=Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDesktop::Wallpaper
    - https://admx.help/?Category=Windows_10_2016&Policy=Microsoft.Policies.ControlPanelDisplay::CPL_Personalization_NoDesktopBackgroundUI
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-20
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.impact
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1112
    - attack.t1491.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_reg_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\reg.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'reg.exe'
    selection_reg_flag:
        CommandLine|contains: 'add'
    selection_keys:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'Control Panel\Desktop'
            - 'CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop'
            - 'CurrentVersion\Policies\System'
    selection_cli_reg_1:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/v NoChangingWallpaper'
            - '/d 1'
    selection_cli_reg_2:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/v Wallpaper'
            - '/t REG_SZ'
    selection_cli_reg_3:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/v WallpaperStyle'
            - '/d 2'
    condition: all of selection_reg_* and selection_keys and 1 of selection_cli_reg_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium