Windows Registry Defense Impairment via Explorer Hide* Policy Values

Flags registry set events that change Explorer hide-related DWORD values under Windows policy keys to impair user visibility.

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windows-registry-defense-impairment-via-explorer-hide-policy-values-5a93eb65

title: Windows Registry Defense Impairment via Explorer Hide* Policy Values
id: eb346ebe-6682-4232-a288-b3af972265e5
status: test
description: This rule identifies Windows registry writes that set specific Explorer policy values to hide UI elements by modifying DWORD settings under CurrentVersion Policies Explorer Hide* keys. Attackers may use this defense-impairment technique to reduce user visibility of activity or internal tools. It relies on telemetry from registry set events capturing the TargetObject path and the Details DWORD value written.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1564.001/T1564.001.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_hide_function_user.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-03-18
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1112
logsource:
  category: registry_set
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_set_1:
    TargetObject|endswith:
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\HideClock
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\HideSCAHealth
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\HideSCANetwork
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\HideSCAPower
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\HideSCAVolume
    Details: DWORD (0x00000001)
  selection_set_0:
    TargetObject|endswith:
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\ShowInfoTip
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\ShowCompColor
    Details: DWORD (0x00000000)
  condition: 1 of selection_set_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate admin script
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 5a93eb65-dffa-4543-b761-94aa60098fb6
    type: derived

What it detects

This rule identifies Windows registry writes that set specific Explorer policy values to hide UI elements by modifying DWORD settings under CurrentVersion Policies Explorer Hide* keys. Attackers may use this defense-impairment technique to reduce user visibility of activity or internal tools. It relies on telemetry from registry set events capturing the TargetObject path and the Details DWORD value written.

Known false positives

Legitimate admin script

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