huntrule

Suspicious Run Key Persistence Pointing to ProgramData Executable (via registry_set)

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-10-22
Updated
2026-10-22
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects a Run key registry value referencing ProgramData\wt.exe, the autostart persistence used in the Axios supply chain attack to relaunch the masqueraded PowerShell payload at logon. A Run key pointing to an executable in ProgramData reflects malware ensuring survival across reboots.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1547.001 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious RunOnce Persistence Pointing to User AppData
Malicious FalseFont Backdoor Run Key Persistence from AppData (via registry_set)
Malicious Registry Run Key Persistence via AHealthDB by Stately Taurus
Suspicious PikaBot Autorun Persistence Pointing to AppData Microsoft Dropzone via registry_set
Malicious Live Ledger Persistence via Realter HD Audio Run Key via registry_set
Suspicious Run Key Persistence Pointing to ProgramData Executable (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.