huntrule

UAC Bypass Using wsreset.exe Registry Command Path (Windows)

Identifies registry TargetObject values associated with a wsreset-style UAC bypass execution command path on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_event
Author
oscd.community, Dmitry Uchakin (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-07
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

  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 flags registry activity targeting a specific AppX command path used to launch a binary via a wsreset-related execution flow. UAC bypass techniques matter because they can allow a low-privileged context to trigger elevated execution without normal user prompts. The detection relies on registry event telemetry matching the exact TargetObject string that ends with the specified command path.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious UAC Bypass via ms-settings Handler Hijack (via registry_set)
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Suspicious dllhost.exe Spawned with CLSID and Anomalous Parent (via process_creation)
Malicious ms-settings DelegateExecute UAC Bypass Registry Change
Malicious User Account Control Bypass via Auto-Elevating Binary Hijack (via process_creation)
Suspicious Mock Trusted Directory with Trailing Space (via process_creation)
UAC Bypass Using wsreset.exe Registry Command Path (Windows)
Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.