Windows Recall Enabled via reg.exe Registry Changes (Windows)

Flags reg.exe commands that delete or set DisableAIDataAnalysis to 0 under WindowsAI to enable Windows Recall.

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windows-recall-enabled-via-reg-exe-registry-changes-windows-817f252c

title: Windows Recall Enabled via reg.exe Registry Changes (Windows)
id: a52628fb-ab9b-4140-a913-0f457895a5b2
related:
  - id: 5dfc1465-8f65-4fde-8eb5-6194380c6a62
    type: similar
  - id: 75180c5f-4ea1-461a-a4f6-6e4700c065d4
    type: similar
  - id: 817f252c-5143-4dae-b418-48c3e9f63728
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies attempts to enable the Windows Recall feature by modifying the DisableAIDataAnalysis registry policy using reg.exe. It matches process creation where reg.exe is invoked with a command line containing WindowsAI/DisableAIDataAnalysis and either a delete operation or adding the value 0. Enabling Recall can support post-exploitation discovery and collection, making policy tampering a meaningful attacker behavior. The rule relies on Windows process creation telemetry with command-line fields.
references:
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/manage-recall
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/mdm/policy-csp-windowsai#disableaidataanalysis
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_reg_enable_windows_recall.yml
author: Sajid Nawaz Khan, Huntrule Team
date: 2024-06-02
tags:
  - attack.collection
  - attack.t1113
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \reg.exe
    - OriginalFileName: reg.exe
  selection_value:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI
      - DisableAIDataAnalysis
  selection_action_add:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - add
      - "0"
  selection_action_delete:
    CommandLine|contains: delete
  condition: selection_img and selection_value and 1 of selection_action_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate use/activation of Windows Recall
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

What it detects

This rule identifies attempts to enable the Windows Recall feature by modifying the DisableAIDataAnalysis registry policy using reg.exe. It matches process creation where reg.exe is invoked with a command line containing WindowsAI/DisableAIDataAnalysis and either a delete operation or adding the value 0. Enabling Recall can support post-exploitation discovery and collection, making policy tampering a meaningful attacker behavior. The rule relies on Windows process creation telemetry with command-line fields.

Known false positives

Legitimate use/activation of Windows Recall

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