Suspicious Run Key Persistence Under Masquerading Service Names

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 registry Run key persistence created under the masquerading value names WdiServiceHost and ChromeUptodate, both used by an APT targeting Vietnamese human rights defenders to blend with legitimate services and Chrome updates. The names imitate trusted software while pointing to sideloaded implants. Run key persistence executes the payload at every user logon.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1547.001 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Run Key Persistence Masquerading as NVIDIA Driver Update

Suspicious Run Key Persistence Executing system.bat via registry_set

Malicious Run Key Persistence Masquerading as Windows Update

Suspicious Run Key Persistence With Masqueraded System Binary by Millenium RAT (via registry_set)

Suspicious Autostart Persistence via Run Key Pointing Outside Program Files (via registry_set)

Suspicious RunOnce Persistence Relaunching Payload with Safe Mode Flag

Suspicious Run Key Persistence Under Masquerading Service Names

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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