Vulnerable Driver Blocklist Registry Tampering Via CommandLine — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems). Source status: experimental; severity: high. Source dates: 2026-01-26 / not supplied.

{
  "category": "process_creation",
  "product": "windows"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 0efe7483ac8764bf892e99bee5694ae67c3ad22ceb8d8b840c8935b0ddf55b3e

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

title: Vulnerable Driver Blocklist Registry Tampering Via CommandLine
id: 22154f0e-5132-4a54-aa78-cc62f6def531
related:
    - id: d526c60a-e236-4011-b165-831ffa52ab70
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects tampering of the Vulnerable Driver Blocklist registry via command line tools such as PowerShell or REG.EXE.
    The Vulnerable Driver Blocklist is a security feature that helps prevent the loading of known vulnerable drivers.
    Disabling this feature may indicate an attempt to bypass security controls, often targeted by threat actors
    to facilitate the installation of malicious or vulnerable drivers, particularly in scenarios involving Endpoint Detection and Response
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
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
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 '  # SetItem Alias
    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

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

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.

Source 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