{"id":"4eec988f-7bf0-49f1-8675-1e6a510b3a2a","title":"Potential PendingFileRenameOperations Tampering","description":"Detect changes to the \"PendingFileRenameOperations\" registry key from uncommon or suspicious images locations to stage currently used files for rename or deletion after reboot.\n","author":"frack113","status":"test","level":"medium","date":"2023-01-27","modified":"2025-10-07","tags":["attack.stealth","attack.t1036.003"],"technique_ids":["T1036.003"],"logsource":{"category":"registry_set","product":"windows"},"falsepositives":["Installers and updaters may set currently in use files for rename or deletion after a reboot."],"references":["https://any.run/report/3ecd4763ffc944fdc67a9027e459cd4f448b1a8d1b36147977afaf86bbf2a261/64b0ba45-e7ce-423b-9a1d-5b4ea59521e6","https://devblogs.microsoft.com/scripting/determine-pending-reboot-statuspowershell-style-part-1/","https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-2000-server/cc960241(v=technet.10)?redirectedfrom=MSDN","https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/21/j/purplefox-adds-new-backdoor-that-uses-websockets.html","https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/19/i/purple-fox-fileless-malware-with-rookit-component-delivered-by-rig-exploit-kit-now-abuses-powershell.html"],"source_path":"rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_susp_pendingfilerenameoperations.yml","source_sha256":"241890c42aadf4f6f8c94289744743c9f2952a93539626c394ced0571a63f491","source_url":"https://github.com/anpa1200/sigma/blob/b249e9683190cffdcaf188ccbfb90bf4759844e1/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_susp_pendingfilerenameoperations.yml","license":"Detection Rule License 1.1","license_url":"https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License/blob/main/LICENSE.Detection.Rules.md","yaml":"title: Potential PendingFileRenameOperations Tampering\nid: 4eec988f-7bf0-49f1-8675-1e6a510b3a2a\nstatus: test\ndescription: |\n    Detect changes to the \"PendingFileRenameOperations\" registry key from uncommon or suspicious images locations to stage currently used files for rename or deletion after reboot.\nreferences:\n    - https://any.run/report/3ecd4763ffc944fdc67a9027e459cd4f448b1a8d1b36147977afaf86bbf2a261/64b0ba45-e7ce-423b-9a1d-5b4ea59521e6\n    - https://devblogs.microsoft.com/scripting/determine-pending-reboot-statuspowershell-style-part-1/\n    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-2000-server/cc960241(v=technet.10)?redirectedfrom=MSDN\n    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/21/j/purplefox-adds-new-backdoor-that-uses-websockets.html\n    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/19/i/purple-fox-fileless-malware-with-rookit-component-delivered-by-rig-exploit-kit-now-abuses-powershell.html\nauthor: frack113\ndate: 2023-01-27\nmodified: 2025-10-07\ntags:\n    - attack.stealth\n    - attack.t1036.003\nlogsource:\n    category: registry_set\n    product: windows\ndetection:\n    selection_main:\n        TargetObject|contains: '\\CurrentControlSet\\Control\\Session Manager\\PendingFileRenameOperations'\n    selection_susp_paths:\n        Image|contains: '\\Users\\Public\\'\n            # - '\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\'  # Commented out as it's used by legitimate installers\n    selection_susp_images:\n        Image|endswith:\n            - '\\reg.exe'\n            - '\\regedit.exe'\n    condition: selection_main and 1 of selection_susp_*\nfalsepositives:\n    - Installers and updaters may set currently in use files for rename or deletion after a reboot.\nlevel: medium\n","validation":"yaml_parsed_not_backend_compiled_or_live_validated","techniques":[{"key":"enterprise/T1036.003","id":"T1036.003","name":"Rename Legitimate Utilities","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1036.003/"}],"data_path":"data/detection-rules/4eec988f-7bf0-49f1-8675-1e6a510b3a2a.json","kind":"sigma"}