Windows Registry Policy Change to Disable/Impair Internal Tools and UI Features

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1112Modify Registry
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1112Modify Registry
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags registry modifications that set specific Windows policy keys to values consistent with disabling system tools, restricting functionality, or impairing user interface elements. Attackers may use these registry changes to hinder defense and user response by reducing visibility and functionality, leveraging Windows policy-based controls. It relies on telemetry from registry set events capturing the TargetObject and the set Details value (DWORD 0x00000001 or 0x00000000) for the matched policy paths.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1112 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Enabling of Restricted Admin Mode via Registry by UAT-8837

Suspicious Enabling of Remote Desktop via fDenyTSConnections Registry by DeadLock Ransomware

Malicious Service DLL Hijack for Persistence via Lotus Blossom

Suspicious Loopback Proxy Server Configured via Registry (via registry_set)

Malicious WDigest Credential Caching Enabled via Registry (via registry_set)

Suspicious Remote Desktop Enabled via fDenyTSConnections Registry by Sandworm

Malicious Gh0stBins RAT Registry Marker HHClient

Suspicious PebbleDash C2 Configuration Stored Under WMI Security Key (via registry_set)

Suspicious WDigest UseLogonCredential Enablement for Plaintext Credential Theft (via registry_set)

Windows Registry Policy Change to Disable/Impair Internal Tools and UI Features

Pivot detection · T1112 · 9 related

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

windows-registry-policy-change-to-disable-impair-internal-tools-and-ui-features-e2482f8d

title: Windows Registry Policy Change to Disable/Impair Internal Tools and UI Features
id: 47d7ce97-b219-4edf-ad1a-124764c61261
status: test
description: This rule flags registry modifications that set specific Windows policy keys to values consistent with disabling system tools, restricting functionality, or impairing user interface elements. Attackers may use these registry changes to hinder defense and user response by reducing visibility and functionality, leveraging Windows policy-based controls. It relies on telemetry from registry set events capturing the TargetObject and the set Details value (DWORD 0x00000001 or 0x00000000) for the matched policy paths.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1112/T1112.md
  - https://www.mandiant.com/resources/unc2165-shifts-to-evade-sanctions
  - https://blogs.vmware.com/security/2022/11/batloader-the-evasive-downloader-malware.html
  - https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/detections/pum-optional-nodispbackgroundpage
  - https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/detections/pum-optional-nodispcpl
  - https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/7bde840c7e8c36dce4c3bac937bcf39f36a6f118001b406bfbbc25451ce44fb4/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_disable_function_user.yml
author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), CrimpSec, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-03-18
modified: 2025-06-04
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\DisableCMD
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoControlPanel
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoRun
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\StartMenuLogOff
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableChangePassword
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableLockWorkstation
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableRegistryTools
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableTaskmgr
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\NoDispBackgroundPage
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\NoDispCPL
      - SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\DisableNotificationCenter
      - SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\DisableCMD
    Details: DWORD (0x00000001)
  selection_set_0:
    TargetObject|endswith:
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin
      - Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\InactivityTimeoutSecs
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\shutdownwithoutlogon
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PushNotifications\ToastEnabled
      - SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Storage\Write Protection
      - SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies\WriteProtect
    Details: DWORD (0x00000000)
  condition: 1 of selection_set_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate admin script
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: e2482f8d-3443-4237-b906-cc145d87a076
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL