Suspicious Autorun Registry Key Pointing to User-Writable Path (via registry_set)

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Priv Esc
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a write to a Run or RunOnce autostart key whose value references an executable located in a user-writable directory such as AppData, Temp, ProgramData or the Public folder. Malware commonly plants persistence in these keys so its dropper re-runs at logon while living outside trusted program paths. An autorun entry pointing into a staging directory is a classic persistence indicator.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Autorun Registry Key Pointing to User-Writable Path (via registry_set)

Pivot detection · T1547.001 · 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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