Windows bcdedit.exe Tampering for MBR/Boot Persistence (Delete, Import, SafeBoot, Network)
Alerts on bcdedit.exe executions with command-line options consistent with boot configuration tampering.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- @neu5ron (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2019-02-07
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Persistence → Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags process executions of bcdedit.exe where the command line includes parameters consistent with modifying boot configuration, such as delete/deletevalue, import, safeboot, or network. Attackers and malware may use boot configuration changes to persist across reboots or prepare for destructive activity like ransomware staging. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry that records the executable name and the full command line.
Reporting behind it
- learn.microsoft.comhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/bcdedit--set
- twitter.comhttps://twitter.com/malwrhunterteam/status/1372536434125512712/photo/2
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_bcdedit_susp_execution.yml
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
title: Windows bcdedit.exe Tampering for MBR/Boot Persistence (Delete, Import, SafeBoot, Network)
id: ae12b678-3df4-4d54-9105-aa6a26433fa0
status: test
description: This rule flags process executions of bcdedit.exe where the command line includes parameters consistent with modifying boot configuration, such as delete/deletevalue, import, safeboot, or network. Attackers and malware may use boot configuration changes to persist across reboots or prepare for destructive activity like ransomware staging. Detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry that records the executable name and the full command line.
references:
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/bcdedit--set
- https://twitter.com/malwrhunterteam/status/1372536434125512712/photo/2
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_bcdedit_susp_execution.yml
author: "@neu5ron, Huntrule Team"
date: 2019-02-07
modified: 2023-02-15
tags:
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1070
- attack.persistence
- attack.t1542.003
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \bcdedit.exe
- OriginalFileName: bcdedit.exe
selection_cli:
CommandLine|contains:
- delete
- deletevalue
- import
- safeboot
- network
condition: all of selection_*
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: c9fbe8e9-119d-40a6-9b59-dd58a5d84429
type: derived