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

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Suspicious dllhost.exe Spawned with CLSID and Anomalous Parent (via process_creation)
Malicious ms-settings DelegateExecute UAC Bypass Registry Change
Malicious User Account Control Bypass via Auto-Elevating Binary Hijack (via process_creation)
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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.