Suspicious Storm-2561 Fake Pulse VPN Persistence via RunOnce Key (via registry_set)

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 a RunOnce registry value configured to launch Pulse.exe, the persistence mechanism used by Storm-2561 after SEO-poisoned downloads deliver a fake Pulse Secure VPN installer. Adversaries use this autorun entry to relaunch the credential-stealing loader, so a RunOnce value pointing at Pulse.exe outside a genuine Pulse Secure deployment indicates the fake VPN foothold.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1547.001 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Internet Shortcut URL File Registered for Run Key Persistence (via registry_set)

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Suspicious Run Key Persistence Pointing to WScript via PhantomVAI Loader (via registry_set)

Suspicious Run Key Persistence Named Updater

Suspicious Run Key Persistence Executing VBScript as WindowsSecurityCheck

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 Storm-2561 Fake Pulse VPN Persistence via RunOnce Key (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.

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