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

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Defense Evasion
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
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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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.

uac-bypass-using-wsreset-exe-registry-command-path-windows-6ea3bf32

title: UAC Bypass Using wsreset.exe Registry Command Path (Windows)
id: 073ad107-8a36-4a57-a068-9f83a9378efa
status: test
description: 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.
references:
  - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/trickbot-uses-a-new-windows-10-uac-bypass-to-launch-quietly
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Wsreset
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_event/registry_event_bypass_via_wsreset.yml
author: oscd.community, Dmitry Uchakin, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-07
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
  category: registry_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|endswith: \AppX82a6gwre4fdg3bt635tn5ctqjf8msdd2\Shell\open\command
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 6ea3bf32-9680-422d-9f50-e90716b12a66
    type: derived

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