huntrule

Windows Registry Access to WCESERVICE Start Key

Detects registry activity targeting the WCE service Start configuration in Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_event
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2019-12-31
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

  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 registry events where the TargetObject path contains Services\WCESERVICE\Start, consistent with activity related to the Windows Credential Editor service start setting. Attackers may use WCE to access or manipulate credentials, so monitoring service-related registry paths helps catch credential-access tooling deployment or activation. It relies on Windows registry event telemetry that includes the TargetObject field.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1003.001 — drag to rearrange
Malicious WDigest Credential Caching Enabled via Registry (via registry_set)
Malicious Credential Dumping via Mimikatz Sekurlsa Command
Malicious Mimikatz Sekurlsa Logonpasswords Credential Dump
Malicious LSASS Credential Dump via ProcDump (via process_creation)
Malicious LSASS Memory Dump via comsvcs.dll by Salt Typhoon
Malicious LSASS Dump via Process Access (via process_access)
Malicious LSASS Credential Dump with LSASSY - Process (via process_creation)
Malicious LSASS Credential Dump with LSASSY - Admin Share (via security)
Malicious Task Manager Used for LSASS Dump - Kernel (via security)
Windows Registry Access to WCESERVICE Start Key
Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 9 related

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