Windows Registry Policy Modification for Explorer UI Function Disabling

Flags Windows Explorer policy registry value writes (DWORD 0x1) that disable Explorer functions or UI elements.

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windows-registry-policy-modification-for-explorer-ui-function-disabling-1c3121ed

title: Windows Registry Policy Modification for Explorer UI Function Disabling
id: 65a76918-a617-4c0b-9136-000bbd9e64c0
status: test
description: This rule identifies Windows registry policy changes under the Explorer Policies path that set specific values to DWORD 0x00000001. These settings disable or remove Explorer functions, which can impair user access and support attacker persistence or defense evasion. It relies on telemetry that records registry set events, including the modified target registry key/value and the value data. Matching is limited to entries ending with the listed Explorer policy keys and requiring the DWORD value to be 1.
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1112/T1112.md
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_set_nopolicies_user.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-03-18
modified: 2023-08-17
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\NoLogOff
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDesktop
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoRun
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoFind
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoControlPanel
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoFileMenu
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoClose
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoSetTaskbar
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoPropertiesMyDocuments
      - SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoTrayContextMenu
    Details: DWORD (0x00000001)
  condition: selection_set_1
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate admin script
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1c3121ed-041b-4d97-a075-07f54f20fb4a
    type: derived

What it detects

This rule identifies Windows registry policy changes under the Explorer Policies path that set specific values to DWORD 0x00000001. These settings disable or remove Explorer functions, which can impair user access and support attacker persistence or defense evasion. It relies on telemetry that records registry set events, including the modified target registry key/value and the value data. Matching is limited to entries ending with the listed Explorer policy keys and requiring the DWORD value to be 1.

Known false positives

Legitimate admin script

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