Creation of a Local Hidden User Account by Registry — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2021-05-03 / 2025-10-31.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 428895c6a5d104390fb656e4e028f1e02a9100b04243e6cbb54bd5bd1964a115

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: Creation of a Local Hidden User Account by Registry
id: 460479f3-80b7-42da-9c43-2cc1d54dbccd
status: test
description: Sysmon registry detection of a local hidden user account.
references:
    - https://twitter.com/SBousseaden/status/1387530414185664538
author: Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-05-03
modified: 2025-10-31
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1136.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: registry_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject|contains: '\SAM\SAM\Domains\Account\Users\Names\'
        TargetObject|endswith: '$\(Default)'
        Image|endswith: '\lsass.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/registry/registry_event/registry_event_add_local_hidden_user/info.yml
simulation:
    - type: atomic-red-team
      name: Create Hidden User in Registry
      technique: T1564.002
      atomic_guid: 173126b7-afe4-45eb-8680-fa9f6400431c

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Unknown

Source references

• https://twitter.com/SBousseaden/status/1387530414185664538