Suspicious Interlock RAT Persistence via HKCU Run Key Registration to AppData Payload (via process_creation)

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 reg.exe writing an HKCU Run autostart value that points to a payload under AppData Roaming, the AUTORUN persistence used by the Interlock RAT variant to relaunch its PHP executable at logon. Adversaries register user Run keys to survive reboots without needing elevation, so a Run value referencing an AppData executable is a persistence indicator that can be tuned against known installers.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Registry Run Key Persistence Using Scarlet Goldfinch OFFICE and DIVXX Values (via registry_set)

Suspicious Interlock RAT Persistence via HKCU Run Key Registration to AppData Payload (via process_creation)

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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