huntrule

Windows Registry RDP Terminal Services Sensitive Settings Tampering

Flags Windows registry changes to sensitive RDP/Terminal Services settings such as shadowing, remote assistance, security, and InitialProgram.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
Samir Bousseaden, David ANDRE, Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g, Nasreddine Bencherchali (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-08-06
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Defense Evasion

  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 identifies registry modifications related to Remote Desktop (Terminal Services) sensitive settings, including changes that can enable shadow viewing/control, allow unsolicited remote assistance offers, and alter RDP security-related options. Attackers may use these settings to weaken access controls, facilitate stealthy session interaction, or persist by configuring programs to run via remote logon automation. It relies on registry set event telemetry matching specific registry paths/values under Terminal Server/Terminal Services and related TermService parameters.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious WDigest UseLogonCredential Enabled for Cleartext Credential Theft (via registry_set)
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Windows Registry RDP Terminal Services Sensitive Settings Tampering
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.