Windows Registry UAC Bypass via Event Viewer Command Key (mscfile shell open command)

Alerts on registry changes to the mscfile shell open command key consistent with an Event Viewer UAC bypass technique.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1

Product: windows
Category: registry_set
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2017-03-19
Updated: 2026-07-30

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Defense Evasion
- T1548.002Bypass User Account Control
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags registry modifications to the Windows Event Viewer-related command key under the mscfile\shell\open\command path. Attackers may use this location to redirect how Event Viewer launches associated commands, enabling UAC bypass or privilege escalation. The detection relies on Windows registry set telemetry capturing TargetObject changes ending with '\mscfile\shell\open\command'.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Registry UAC Bypass via Event Viewer Command Key (mscfile shell open command)

Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 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-uac-bypass-via-event-viewer-command-key-mscfile-shell-open-comm-7c81fec3

title: Windows Registry UAC Bypass via Event Viewer Command Key (mscfile shell open command)
id: 1cb36f7e-3db1-486b-9959-c70db01e50cd
status: test
description: This rule flags registry modifications to the Windows Event Viewer-related command key under the mscfile\shell\open\command path. Attackers may use this location to redirect how Event Viewer launches associated commands, enabling UAC bypass or privilege escalation. The detection relies on Windows registry set telemetry capturing TargetObject changes ending with '\mscfile\shell\open\command'.
references:
  - https://enigma0x3.net/2016/08/15/fileless-uac-bypass-using-eventvwr-exe-and-registry-hijacking/
  - https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/e122bc8bf291f15cab182a5d2d27b8db1e7019e4e96bb5cdbd1dfe7446f3f51f?environmentId=100
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_uac_bypass_eventvwr.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2017-03-19
modified: 2023-09-28
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.t1548.002
  - car.2019-04-001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: registry_set
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|endswith: \mscfile\shell\open\command
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 7c81fec3-1c1d-43b0-996a-46753041b1b6
    type: derived

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