huntrule

VBScript Registry Write Attempt via Wscript.shell RegWrite on Windows

Flags command lines containing Wscript.shell CreateObject and RegWrite, indicating VBScript-driven registry modification attempts.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2025-08-13
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → 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 Windows process executions whose command line includes the VBScript automation pattern CreateObject("Wscript.shell") and the RegWrite method call. Such activity can indicate an attempt to programmatically modify registry values without using common registry management utilities. It matters because attackers may use script-based registry writes for persistence or other configuration changes while blending in with legitimate scripting behavior. Telemetry relied on is Windows process creation events and the executed command line content.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1112 — drag to rearrange
PowerShell VBScript RegWrite Registry Modification Attempts
Malicious Enabling of Restricted Admin Mode via Registry by UAT-8837
Suspicious Enabling of Remote Desktop via fDenyTSConnections Registry by DeadLock Ransomware
Malicious Service DLL Hijack for Persistence via Lotus Blossom
Suspicious Loopback Proxy Server Configured via Registry (via registry_set)
Malicious WDigest Credential Caching Enabled via Registry (via registry_set)
Suspicious Script Host Execution of Decoy-Named JavaScript Dropper (PS1Bot)
Malicious PathWiper Loader Script Execution from Windows Temp via WScript
Suspicious Office Application Spawning Script Or Shell Interpreter
VBScript Registry Write Attempt via Wscript.shell RegWrite on Windows
Pivot detection · T1112 · 9 related

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