Suspicious PowerShell Payload Staging in HKCU Printers Registry Key

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Collection

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1112Modify Registry
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1112Modify Registry
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
- T1074.001Local Data Staging
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects PowerShell that reads or writes payload data under the HKCU Printers registry key while using DPAPI SecureString conversion. Gamaredon GammaSteel hides encrypted PowerShell stages in this uncommon location and decodes them with ConvertTo-SecureString at runtime. Combining the Printers key with SecureString cryptography in a script is a distinctive fileless staging pattern.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious PowerShell Payload Staging in HKCU Printers Registry Key

Pivot detection · T1112 · 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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