Windows: Registry CreateKey/Rename of HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MiniNt

Flags registry creation or renaming of the MiniNt key that can impair Windows event logging after reboot.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1

Product: windows
Category: registry_event
Author: Ilyas Ochkov, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2019-10-25
Updated: 2026-07-30

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1112Modify Registry
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1112Modify Registry
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies attempts to create or rename the registry key HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MiniNt. Adding this key can disable Windows event logging after a reboot, which matters to attackers seeking defense impairment by reducing available audit telemetry. It relies on registry event telemetry capturing key creation and rename activity, including the target object or the new registry key name.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious PebbleDash C2 Configuration Stored Under WMI Security Key (via registry_set)

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Windows: Registry CreateKey/Rename of HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MiniNt

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.

windows-registry-createkey-rename-of-hklm-system-currentcontrolset-control-minin-919f2ef0

title: "Windows: Registry CreateKey/Rename of HKLM\\SYSTEM\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\MiniNt"
id: f072b96f-19c3-4328-95c0-55eaae884cb8
status: test
description: This rule identifies attempts to create or rename the registry key HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MiniNt. Adding this key can disable Windows event logging after a reboot, which matters to attackers seeking defense impairment by reducing available audit telemetry. It relies on registry event telemetry capturing key creation and rename activity, including the target object or the new registry key name.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/0gtweet/status/1182516740955226112
  - https://www.hackingarticles.in/defense-evasion-windows-event-logging-t1562-002/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_event/registry_event_disable_security_events_logging_adding_reg_key_minint.yml
author: Ilyas Ochkov, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2019-10-25
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685.001
  - attack.t1112
  - car.2022-03-001
logsource:
  category: registry_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    - TargetObject: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MiniNt
      EventType: CreateKey
    - NewName: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\MiniNt
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 919f2ef0-be2d-4a7a-b635-eb2b41fde044
    type: derived

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