Suspicious Modify Group Policy Settings (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Modify Group Policy Settings (via process_creation)
id: 7842a3da-0594-5e36-9150-dbd7c8312b16
status: stable
description: This rule detects hostile GPO modifications can be leveraged to implement many other hostile behaviors.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1484/001/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/40b77d63808dd4f4eafb83949805636735a1fd15/atomics/T1484.001/T1484.001.md
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-06-10
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1484.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_reg:
        - Image|endswith: '\reg.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'reg.exe'
    selection_path:
        CommandLine|contains: '\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System'
    selection_key:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - GroupPolicyRefreshTimeDC
            - GroupPolicyRefreshTimeOffsetDC
            - GroupPolicyRefreshTime
            - GroupPolicyRefreshTimeOffset
            - EnableSmartScreen
            - ShellSmartScreenLevel
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium