Windows Vulnerable Driver Blocklist Registry Tampering via PowerShell or REG.EXE

Flags PowerShell/REG.EXE command lines that change the VulnerableDriverBlocklistEnable registry setting under \Control\CI\Config.

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windows-vulnerable-driver-blocklist-registry-tampering-via-powershell-or-reg-exe-22154f0e

title: Windows Vulnerable Driver Blocklist Registry Tampering via PowerShell or REG.EXE
id: 5d56859d-31ad-4a79-8930-5ac17cc9d6c2
related:
  - id: d526c60a-e236-4011-b165-831ffa52ab70
    type: similar
  - id: 22154f0e-5132-4a54-aa78-cc62f6def531
    type: derived
status: experimental
description: This rule identifies process executions using PowerShell or REG.EXE where command-line activity modifies the registry configuration path \Control\CI\Config, specifically targeting the VulnerableDriverBlocklistEnable setting. Tampering with the Vulnerable Driver Blocklist can weaken Windows driver protections, potentially enabling the use of malicious or vulnerable drivers. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry including the executing image name and command-line arguments.
references:
  - https://www.sophos.com/en-us/blog/sharpening-the-knife-gold-blades-strategic-evolution
  - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/application-security/application-control/app-control-for-business/design/microsoft-recommended-driver-block-rules
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_vulnerable_driver_blocklist_registry_tampering.yml
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-26
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith:
        - \powershell.exe
        - \pwsh.exe
        - \reg.exe
    - OriginalFileName:
        - PowerShell.EXE
        - pwsh.dll
        - reg.exe
  selection_cli_1:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - "add "
      - "New-ItemProperty "
      - "Set-ItemProperty "
      - "si "
  selection_cli_2:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
      - \Control\CI\Config
      - VulnerableDriverBlocklistEnable
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - It is very unlikely for legitimate activities to disable the Vulnerable Driver Blocklist via command line tools; thus it is recommended to investigate promptly.
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_vulnerable_driver_blocklist_registry_tampering/info.yml
license: DRL-1.1

What it detects

This rule identifies process executions using PowerShell or REG.EXE where command-line activity modifies the registry configuration path \Control\CI\Config, specifically targeting the VulnerableDriverBlocklistEnable setting. Tampering with the Vulnerable Driver Blocklist can weaken Windows driver protections, potentially enabling the use of malicious or vulnerable drivers. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry including the executing image name and command-line arguments.

Known false positives

It is very unlikely for legitimate activities to disable the Vulnerable Driver Blocklist via command line tools; thus it is recommended to investigate promptly.

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