huntrule

Windows SafeBoot Registry Key Deletion via reg.exe Command-Line

Flags reg.exe deleting the \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot registry key via command line.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Tim Shelton (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-08-08
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

  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 identifies process executions of reg.exe where the command line includes the delete operation targeting the SafeBoot registry path (\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot). Attackers may use this behavior to interfere with SafeBoot protections and reduce the ability of security tools to execute or recover. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching reg.exe execution and specific command-line substrings indicating deletion of the SafeBoot key.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Vulnerable Intel Ethernet Driver Load for BYOVD via SCATTERED SPIDER (via driver_load)
Malicious Defender Disable And Executable Exclusion Via Registry
Malicious UAC Disable via EnableLUA Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Malicious AMSI and ETW Patching via PowerShell Script
Malicious PowMix AMSI Bypass via amsiInitFailed
Suspicious ThrottleStop Driver Abuse for Defense Evasion in Ransomware Attacks
Malicious Disabling of Microsoft Defender Real-Time Protection via SystemSettingsAdminFlows by DeadLock Ransomware
Suspicious Security Software Uninstallation via WMIC Product Call Uninstall (Chaos Ransomware)
Suspicious Security Product Uninstall via wmic product call uninstall
Windows SafeBoot Registry Key Deletion via reg.exe Command-Line
Pivot detection · T1685 · 9 related

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