Winlogon Shell Registry Persistence Attempt (KamiKakaBot Indicators) on Windows

Flags registry changes to Winlogon Shell that include PowerShell-style startup and explorer.exe indicators.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: windows
Category: registry_set
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), X__Junior (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2024-03-22
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Priv Esc
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies registry value writes targeting the Winlogon Shell setting where the data contains specific process-spawn indicators: '-nop -w h', '$env', 'explorer.exe', and 'Start-Process'. Attackers often use Winlogon Shell persistence to ensure their payload launches at user logon, blending into normal startup behavior. The detection relies on Windows registry set telemetry that includes the registry path (TargetObject) and the written value (Details).

Reporting behind it

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Winlogon Shell Registry Persistence Attempt (KamiKakaBot Indicators) on Windows

Pivot detection · T1547.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

windows-registry-winlogon-shell-modification-using-powershell-like-values-c9b86500

title: Winlogon Shell Registry Persistence Attempt (KamiKakaBot Indicators) on Windows
id: 5ffe1adf-809f-4753-882a-dae8206acdb8
status: test
description: "This rule identifies registry value writes targeting the Winlogon Shell setting where the data contains specific process-spawn indicators: '-nop -w h', '$env', 'explorer.exe', and 'Start-Process'. Attackers often use Winlogon Shell persistence to ensure their payload launches at user logon, blending into normal startup behavior. The detection relies on Windows registry set telemetry that includes the registry path (TargetObject) and the written value (Details)."
references:
  - https://www.nextron-systems.com/2024/03/22/unveiling-kamikakabot-malware-analysis/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2024/Malware/KamiKakaBot/registry_set_malware_kamikakabot_winlogon_persistence.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), X__Junior, Huntrule Team
date: 2024-03-22
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.t1547.001
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  category: registry_set
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|endswith: \Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
    Details|contains|all:
      - -nop -w h
      - $env
      - explorer.exe
      - Start-Process
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: c9b86500-1ec2-4de6-9120-d744c8fb5caf
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

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