title: Persistence Via Sticky Key Backdoor
id: 1070db9a-3e5d-412e-8e7b-7183b616e1b3
status: test
description: |
    By replacing the sticky keys executable with the local admins CMD executable, an attacker is able to access a privileged windows console session without authenticating to the system.
    When the sticky keys are "activated" the privilleged shell is launched.
references:
    - https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2017/03/apt29_domain_frontin.html
    - https://www.clearskysec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ClearSky-Fox-Kitten-Campaign-v1.pdf
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/jonathantrull/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors
author: Sreeman
date: 2020-02-18
modified: 2023-03-07
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.008
    - attack.privilege-escalation
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'copy '
            - '/y '
            - 'C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe C:\windows\system32\sethc.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: critical

title: Sticky Key Like Backdoor Execution
id: 2fdefcb3-dbda-401e-ae23-f0db027628bc
related:
    - id: baca5663-583c-45f9-b5dc-ea96a22ce542
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects the usage and installation of a backdoor that uses an option to register a malicious debugger for built-in tools that are accessible in the login screen
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/jonathantrull/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), @twjackomo, Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community
date: 2018-03-15
modified: 2023-03-07
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.008
    - car.2014-11-003
    - car.2014-11-008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\winlogon.exe'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\cmd.exe'
            - '\cscript.exe'
            - '\mshta.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
            - '\regsvr32.exe'
            - '\rundll32.exe'
            - '\wscript.exe'
            - '\wt.exe'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'sethc.exe'
            - 'utilman.exe'
            - 'osk.exe'
            - 'Magnify.exe'
            - 'Narrator.exe'
            - 'DisplaySwitch.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: critical

title: Sticky Key Like Backdoor Usage - Registry
id: baca5663-583c-45f9-b5dc-ea96a22ce542
status: test
description: Detects the usage and installation of a backdoor that uses an option to register a malicious debugger for built-in tools that are accessible in the login screen
references:
    - https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jonathantrull/2016/10/03/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors/
    - https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/6f3aa9362d72e806490a8abce245331030d1ab5ac77e400dd475748236a6cc81/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), @twjackomo, Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community
date: 2018-03-15
modified: 2022-11-26
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.008
    - car.2014-11-003
    - car.2014-11-008
logsource:
    category: registry_event
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_registry:
        TargetObject|endswith:
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\sethc.exe\Debugger'
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\utilman.exe\Debugger'
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\osk.exe\Debugger'
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Magnify.exe\Debugger'
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Narrator.exe\Debugger'
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\DisplaySwitch.exe\Debugger'
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\atbroker.exe\Debugger'
            - '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\HelpPane.exe\Debugger'
    condition: selection_registry
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: critical

title: Potential Privilege Escalation Using Symlink Between Osk and Cmd
id: e9b61244-893f-427c-b287-3e708f321c6b
status: test
description: Detects the creation of a symbolic link between "cmd.exe" and the accessibility on-screen keyboard binary (osk.exe) using "mklink". This technique provides an elevated command prompt to the user from the login screen without the need to log in.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/5c1e6f1b4fafd01c8d1ece85f510160fc1275fbf/atomics/T1546.008/T1546.008.md
    - https://ss64.com/nt/mklink.html
author: frack113
date: 2022-12-11
modified: 2022-12-20
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.008
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'Cmd.Exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'mklink'
            - '\osk.exe'
            - '\cmd.exe'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cmd_mklink_osk_cmd/info.yml

title: Suspicious Debugger Registration Cmdline
id: ae215552-081e-44c7-805f-be16f975c8a2
status: test
description: Detects the registration of a debugger for a program that is available in the logon screen (sticky key backdoor).
references:
    - https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jonathantrull/2016/10/03/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors/
    - https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/6f3aa9362d72e806490a8abce245331030d1ab5ac77e400dd475748236a6cc81/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), oscd.community, Jonhnathan Ribeiro
date: 2019-09-06
modified: 2022-08-06
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1546.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection1:
        CommandLine|contains: '\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\'
    selection2:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'sethc.exe'
            - 'utilman.exe'
            - 'osk.exe'
            - 'magnify.exe'
            - 'narrator.exe'
            - 'displayswitch.exe'
            - 'atbroker.exe'
            - 'HelpPane.exe'
    condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Potential Suspicious Activity Using SeCEdit
id: c2c76b77-32be-4d1f-82c9-7e544bdfe0eb
status: test
description: Detects potential suspicious behaviour using secedit.exe. Such as exporting or modifying the security policy
references:
    - https://blueteamops.medium.com/secedit-and-i-know-it-595056dee53d
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/secedit
author: Janantha Marasinghe
date: 2022-11-18
modified: 2022-12-30
tags:
    - attack.collection
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1685.001
    - attack.t1547.001
    - attack.t1505.005
    - attack.t1556.002
    - attack.t1685
    - attack.t1574.007
    - attack.t1564.002
    - attack.t1546.008
    - attack.t1546.007
    - attack.t1547.014
    - attack.t1547.010
    - attack.t1547.002
    - attack.t1557
    - attack.t1082
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\secedit.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'SeCEdit'
    selection_flags_discovery:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/export'
            - '/cfg'
    selection_flags_configure:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/configure'
            - '/db'
    # filter:
    #     SubjectUserName|endswith: '$'  SubjectUserName is from event ID 4719 in the Windows Security log
    condition: selection_img and (1 of selection_flags_*)
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administrative use
level: medium