Windows Registry Event: OilRig-style Run Key Persistence via UMe/UT Subkeys

title: "Windows Registry Event: OilRig-style Run Key Persistence via UMe/UT Subkeys"
id: 8ae1e143-141e-4f96-ba30-43c8e290edf1
related:
  - id: 53ba33fd-3a50-4468-a5ef-c583635cfa92
    type: similar
  - id: c0580559-a6bd-4ef6-b9b7-83703d98b561
    type: similar
  - id: ce6e34ca-966d-41c9-8d93-5b06c8b97a06
    type: similar
  - id: 7bdf2a7c-3acc-4091-9581-0a77dad1c5b5
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows registry events targeting specific persistence-related paths under SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UMe and SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UT. Such modifications can enable malware to execute automatically after startup or under repeated conditions, helping attackers maintain long-term access and control. It relies on telemetry from Windows registry events capturing the TargetObject values that end with the monitored subkey paths.
references:
  - https://web.archive.org/web/20180402134442/https://nyotron.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Nyotron-OilRig-Malware-Report-March-2018C.pdf
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2018/TA/OilRig/registry_event_apt_oilrig_mar18.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Markus Neis, Jonhnathan Ribeiro, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2018-03-23
modified: 2023-03-08
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.g0049
  - attack.t1053.005
  - attack.s0111
  - attack.t1543.003
  - attack.t1112
  - attack.command-and-control
  - attack.t1071.004
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  category: registry_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|endswith:
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UMe
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\UT
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: critical
license: DRL-1.1