Windows Process Creation: Registry Tampering of DisableRestrictedAdmin in Lsa Key

title: "Windows Process Creation: Registry Tampering of DisableRestrictedAdmin in Lsa Key"
id: a4572cb3-b0e4-4d28-b418-a90e986bb47b
related:
  - id: d6ce7ebd-260b-4323-9768-a9631c8d4db2
    type: similar
  - id: 28ac00d6-22d9-4a3c-927f-bbd770104573
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation events where the command line contains both the LSA key path and the DisableRestrictedAdmin registry value, indicating an attempt to change RestrictedAdmin mode settings. RestrictedAdmin mode is intended to limit reuse of credentials over Remote Desktop connections, so modifying this value can undermine that protection. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry with the command line content matching the specified key and value strings.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/a8e3cf63e97b973a25903d3df9fd55da6252e564/atomics/T1112/T1112.md
  - https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/32905.remote-desktop-services-enable-restricted-admin-mode.aspx
  - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/05/09/seo-poisoning-a-gootloader-story/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_reg_lsa_disable_restricted_admin.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-01-13
modified: 2025-08-28
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1112
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - \System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
      - DisableRestrictedAdmin
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1