Suspicious Enable Microsoft Dynamic Data Exchange (via registry_set)

title: Suspicious Enable Microsoft Dynamic Data Exchange (via registry_set)
id: dec3b1c6-3643-527b-be16-2a99456736ad
status: stable
description: This rule detects Dynamic Data Exchange protocol (DDE) in all supported editions of Microsoft Word or Excel.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1559/002/
    - https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/ADV170021
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-02-21
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1559.002
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_word:
        TargetObject|endswith: '\Word\Security\AllowDDE'
        Details:
            - 'DWORD (0x00000001)'
            - 'DWORD (0x00000002)'
    selection_excel:
        TargetObject|endswith:
            - '\Excel\Security\DisableDDEServerLaunch'
            - '\Excel\Security\DisableDDEServerLookup'
        Details: 'DWORD (0x00000000)'
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium