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Windows Registry Change Disables ETW for rpcrt4.dll via ExtErrorInformation

Flags Windows registry updates that disable ETW logging for rpcrt4.dll through ExtErrorInformation.

FreeReviewedSigma · Low · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-12-09
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → 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 identifies modifications to the ExtErrorInformation registry value under the Microsoft\Windows NT\Rpc path for rpcrt4.dll and matches configurations that turn ETW off (0x00000000 or 0x00000002). Disabling or weakening ETW logging can help attackers reduce visibility into process, error, or RPC-related activity. The detection relies on registry set telemetry that reports the target key path and the DWORD value written.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious WDigest UseLogonCredential Enabled for Cleartext Credential Theft (via registry_set)
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Windows Registry Change Disables ETW for rpcrt4.dll via ExtErrorInformation
Pivot detection · T1112 · 9 related

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