huntrule

Windows Registry: Disable User Account Control by setting EnableLUA to 0

Alerts on Windows registry changes that disable UAC by writing EnableLUA as 0.

FreeUnreviewedSigmamediumv1
title: "Windows Registry: Disable User Account Control by setting EnableLUA to 0"
id: d8bc083c-3d71-4eae-9a44-67f097d6e993
related:
  - id: c5f6a85d-b647-40f7-bbad-c10b66bab038
    type: similar
  - id: 0d7ceeef-3539-4392-8953-3dc664912714
    type: similar
  - id: 48437c39-9e5f-47fb-af95-3d663c3f2919
    type: derived
status: stable
description: This rule flags registry writes that set EnableLUA to DWORD 0 under the Policies\System path, indicating an attempt to disable User Account Control. Disabling UAC can reduce protections around elevation prompts and facilitate privilege escalation. The detection relies on Windows registry set telemetry capturing the TargetObject path and the written DWORD value.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/7e11e9b79583545f208a6dc3fa062f2ed443d999/atomics/T1548.002/T1548.002.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_uac_disable.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-01-05
modified: 2024-05-10
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
  category: registry_set
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|contains: \Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLUA
    Details: DWORD (0x00000000)
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

What it detects

This rule flags registry writes that set EnableLUA to DWORD 0 under the Policies\System path, indicating an attempt to disable User Account Control. Disabling UAC can reduce protections around elevation prompts and facilitate privilege escalation. The detection relies on Windows registry set telemetry capturing the TargetObject path and the written DWORD value.

Known false positives

  • Unknown

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