huntrule

Suspicious User Shell Folders Startup Redirect for Persistence via Registry

PremiumReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-09-22
Updated
2026-09-22
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 modification of the User Shell Folders Startup value, redirecting the startup directory to an attacker-controlled path for persistence. This registry hijack was seen in fake browser update infections chaining LummaC and Amadey. Detecting the redirect exposes a stealthy autostart mechanism outside the normal Startup folder.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1547.001 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Startup Persistence via Registry Run Key Pointing to Script
Malicious XRed Backdoor Execution from ProgramData Synaptics Path (via process_creation)
Suspicious Double Extension Executable Execution via Command Line
Suspicious SCMBanker Autostart Persistence via Run Key VBScript
Malicious Run Key Persistence Pointing to Renamed PowerShell via Axios Compromise
Suspicious PowerShell Persistence via Registry Run Key
Possible SHELBY Backdoor Persistence via Run Key Referencing AppData HTTPApi
Suspicious Run Key Persistence Pointing to Test Executable via Registry Set
Malicious WmRAT Persistence via vcswin Run Key (via registry_set)
Suspicious User Shell Folders Startup Redirect for Persistence via Registry
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.