huntrule

Windows Register_app.vbs Proxy COM+ Provider Registration via Process Command-Line

Alerts when REGISTER_APP.VBS is executed with -register to register a VSS/VDS provider as a COM+ application.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-08-19
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

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 process executions whose command line contains both the script path segment '\register_app.vbs' and the '-register' argument, indicating an attempt to register a COM+ application/provider using Microsoft signed script content. Attackers can use COM+ registration behavior for stealthy proxying or execution flows that blend with legitimate system tooling. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry that captures the full command line.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Register_app.vbs Proxy COM+ Provider Registration via Process Command-Line
Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v1
    No 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.