Windows Registry RunMRU PowerShell or WMIC Execution Command Indicators

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows registry changes under the Explorer RunMRU key where command history entries contain PowerShell or specific WMIC usage. Such activity can indicate an attacker attempting to execute or stage malicious commands through common Windows run patterns. The detection relies on registry telemetry capturing the RunMRU TargetObject path and command strings in the registry Details field.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Registry RunMRU PowerShell or WMIC Execution Command Indicators

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 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-runmru-powershell-or-wmic-execution-command-indicators-a7df0e9e

title: Windows Registry RunMRU PowerShell or WMIC Execution Command Indicators
id: 7baf85a5-687c-4a7e-9c5d-c802756096b5
related:
  - id: f9d091f6-f1c7-4873-a24f-050b4a02b4dd
    type: derived
  - id: a7df0e9e-91a5-459a-a003-4cde67c2ff5d
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows registry changes under the Explorer RunMRU key where command history entries contain PowerShell or specific WMIC usage. Such activity can indicate an attacker attempting to execute or stage malicious commands through common Windows run patterns. The detection relies on registry telemetry capturing the RunMRU TargetObject path and command strings in the registry Details field.
references:
  - https://medium.com/@ahmed.moh.farou2/fake-captcha-campaign-on-arabic-pirated-movie-sites-delivers-lumma-stealer-4f203f7adabf
  - https://medium.com/@shaherzakaria8/downloading-trojan-lumma-infostealer-through-capatcha-1f25255a0e71
  - https://www.forensafe.com/blogs/runmrukey.html
  - https://redcanary.com/blog/threat-intelligence/intelligence-insights-october-2024/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_runmru_susp_command_execution.yml
author: Ahmed Farouk, Nasreddine Bencherchali, Huntrule Team
date: 2024-11-01
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: registry_set
detection:
  selection_key:
    TargetObject|contains: \Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
  selection_powershell_command:
    Details|contains:
      - powershell
      - pwsh
  selection_powershell_susp_keywords:
    Details|contains:
      - " -e "
      - " -ec "
      - " -en "
      - " -enc "
      - " -enco"
      - ftp
      - Hidden
      - http
      - iex
      - Invoke-
  selection_wmic_command:
    Details|contains: wmic
  selection_wmic_susp_keywords:
    Details|contains:
      - shadowcopy
      - process call create
  condition: selection_key and (all of selection_powershell_* or all of selection_wmic_*)
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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