huntrule

Windows Registry Event: Pandemic implant key path contains null Instance

Detects registry activity targeting CurrentControlSet\services\null\Instance, associated with Windows implant persistence staging.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v5
Product
windows
Category
registry_event
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2017-06-01
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

C2

  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 matches Windows registry events where the TargetObject contains the path fragment \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\null\Instance. Attackers that use registry-based persistence or configuration changes may write service-related keys, making this a high-signal indicator of implant deployment. Telemetry relies on registry event logs that capture the TargetObject value for write or modification operations on Windows.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Velociraptor Agent Deployment via msiexec From Cloud Storage
Suspicious PowerShell Download of lib.zip Archive
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Windows Registry Event: Pandemic implant key path contains null Instance
Pivot detection · T1105 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
  1. v5
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v4
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  3. v3
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  4. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  5. v1
    No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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