huntrule

Windows Registry: UAC PromptOnSecureDesktop Disabled

Detects setting UAC PromptOnSecureDesktop to 0 via Windows registry policy, disabling secure desktop for UAC prompts.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2024-05-10
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → 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 flags registry changes that set the UAC "PromptOnSecureDesktop" policy value to 0 under the System Policies path. Disabling secure desktop display can expose UAC prompts to the user’s normal desktop, reducing protection against prompt spoofing or tampering. It relies on registry set telemetry that records the TargetObject path and the associated DWORD setting value.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1548.002 — drag to rearrange
Possible UAC Bypass via easinvoker Spawning Batch Script (via process_creation)
Suspicious UAC Bypass by Disabling Admin Consent Prompt via registry_set
Malicious Cloud Atlas UAC Bypass via fodhelper (via process_creation)
Suspicious computerdefaults.exe Spawning Child Process
Suspicious UAC Bypass via control.exe App Paths or Shell Open Command Hijack
Malicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Suspicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Malicious UAC Bypass via explorer.exe NOUACCHECK Argument
Suspicious UAC Bypass via ms-settings Shell Command Hijack (via registry_set)
Windows Registry: UAC PromptOnSecureDesktop Disabled
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.