Windows Registry Persistence via UMe/UT Run Keys
Alerts on Windows registry changes to UMe/UT run key subpaths associated with persistence.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- registry_event
- Author
- Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Markus Neis, Jonhnathan Ribeiro, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2018-03-23
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → C2Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies Windows registry writes targeting persistence-related keys under the Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion path, specifically ending with UMe and UT. Such persistence can allow an attacker to re-establish execution after reboot by placing entries in well-known startup locations. It relies on registry event telemetry that includes the TargetObject value for the write operation.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: Windows Registry Persistence via UMe/UT Run Keys
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 identifies Windows registry writes targeting persistence-related keys under the Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion path, specifically ending with UMe and UT. Such persistence can allow an attacker to re-establish execution after reboot by placing entries in well-known startup locations. It relies on registry event telemetry that includes the TargetObject value for the write operation.
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