{"id":"452bce90-6fb0-43cc-97a5-affc283139b3","title":"Suspicious Windows Defender Registry Key Tampering Via Reg.EXE","description":"Detects the usage of \"reg.exe\" to tamper with different Windows Defender registry keys in order to disable some important features related to protection and detection\n","author":"Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)","status":"test","level":"high","date":"2022-03-22","modified":"2025-06-04","tags":["attack.defense-impairment","attack.t1685"],"technique_ids":["T1685"],"logsource":{"category":"process_creation","product":"windows"},"falsepositives":["Rare legitimate use by administrators to test software (should always be investigated)"],"references":["https://thedfirreport.com/2022/03/21/apt35-automates-initial-access-using-proxyshell/","https://github.com/swagkarna/Defeat-Defender-V1.2.0/tree/ae4059c4276da6f6303b8f53cdff085ecae88a91","https://www.elevenforum.com/t/video-guide-how-to-completely-disable-microsoft-defender-antivirus.14608/page-2","https://tria.ge/241231-j9yatstqbm/behavioral1"],"source_path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_reg_windows_defender_tamper.yml","source_sha256":"83118f134300400efd8948c383554bc89f99bd1719e0ac65d695808cd807e665","source_url":"https://github.com/anpa1200/sigma/blob/b249e9683190cffdcaf188ccbfb90bf4759844e1/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_reg_windows_defender_tamper.yml","license":"Detection Rule License 1.1","license_url":"https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License/blob/main/LICENSE.Detection.Rules.md","yaml":"title: Suspicious Windows Defender Registry Key Tampering Via Reg.EXE\nid: 452bce90-6fb0-43cc-97a5-affc283139b3\nstatus: test\ndescription: |\n    Detects the usage of \"reg.exe\" to tamper with different Windows Defender registry keys in order to disable some important features related to protection and detection\nreferences:\n    - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/03/21/apt35-automates-initial-access-using-proxyshell/\n    - https://github.com/swagkarna/Defeat-Defender-V1.2.0/tree/ae4059c4276da6f6303b8f53cdff085ecae88a91\n    - https://www.elevenforum.com/t/video-guide-how-to-completely-disable-microsoft-defender-antivirus.14608/page-2\n    - https://tria.ge/241231-j9yatstqbm/behavioral1\nauthor: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)\ndate: 2022-03-22\nmodified: 2025-06-04\ntags:\n    - attack.defense-impairment\n    - attack.t1685\nlogsource:\n    category: process_creation\n    product: windows\ndetection:\n    selection_root_img:\n        - Image|endswith: '\\reg.exe'\n        - OriginalFileName: 'reg.exe'\n    selection_root_path:\n        CommandLine|contains:\n            - 'SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender\\'\n            - 'SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender Security Center'\n            - 'SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender\\'\n    selection_dword_0:\n        CommandLine|contains|all:\n            - ' add '\n            - 'd 0'\n        CommandLine|contains:\n            - 'DisallowExploitProtectionOverride'\n            - 'EnableControlledFolderAccess'\n            - 'MpEnablePus'\n            - 'PUAProtection'\n            - 'SpynetReporting'\n            - 'SubmitSamplesConsent'\n            - 'TamperProtection'\n    selection_dword_1:\n        CommandLine|contains|all:\n            - ' add '\n            - 'd 1'\n        CommandLine|contains:\n            - 'DisableAccess'\n            - 'DisableAntiSpyware'\n            - 'DisableAntiSpywareRealtimeProtection'\n            - 'DisableAntiVirus'\n            - 'DisableAntiVirusSignatures'\n            - 'DisableArchiveScanning'\n            - 'DisableBehaviorMonitoring'\n            - 'DisableBlockAtFirstSeen'\n            - 'DisableCloudProtection'\n            - 'DisableConfig'\n            - 'DisableEnhancedNotifications'\n            - 'DisableIntrusionPreventionSystem'\n            - 'DisableIOAVProtection'\n            - 'DisableNetworkProtection'\n            - 'DisableOnAccessProtection'\n            - 'DisablePrivacyMode'\n            - 'DisableRealtimeMonitoring'\n            - 'DisableRoutinelyTakingAction'\n            - 'DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable'\n            - 'DisableScriptScanning'\n            - 'DisableSecurityCenter'\n            - 'Notification_Suppress'\n            - 'SignatureDisableUpdateOnStartupWithoutEngine'\n    condition: all of selection_root_* and 1 of selection_dword_*\nfalsepositives:\n    - Rare legitimate use by administrators to test software (should always be investigated)\nlevel: high\n","validation":"yaml_parsed_not_backend_compiled_or_live_validated","techniques":[{"key":"enterprise/T1685","id":"T1685","name":"Disable or Modify Tools","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1685/"}],"data_path":"data/detection-rules/452bce90-6fb0-43cc-97a5-affc283139b3.json","kind":"sigma"}