huntrule

Windows Process Creation: reg.exe Adds or Copies SafeBoot Registry Keys

Flags reg.exe with add/copy used against SafeBoot registry keys in Windows process creation logs.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-09-02
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

  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 identifies Windows process executions where reg.exe is invoked with add/copy flags and a command line referencing the SafeBoot registry path under SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot. Attackers may modify SafeBoot-related registry keys to influence system startup behavior, which can help malware or ransomware operate under Safe Mode conditions. It relies on process creation telemetry, matching reg.exe execution, command-line contents, and SafeBoot path references.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Security Product Uninstall via wmic product call uninstall
Windows Process Creation: reg.exe Adds or Copies SafeBoot Registry Keys
Pivot detection · T1685 · 9 related

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