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Detection rules › Sigma

Registry Modification Attempt Via VBScript

Status
experimental
Severity
medium
Log source
product windows, category process_creation
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects attempts to modify the registry using VBScript's CreateObject("Wscript.shell") and RegWrite methods via common LOLBINs. It could be an attempt to modify the registry for persistence without using straightforward methods like regedit.exe, reg.exe, or PowerShell. Threat Actors may use this technique to evade detection by security solutions that monitor for direct registry modifications through traditional tools.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

TacticTechniques
ExecutionT1059.005 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic
PersistenceT1112 Modify Registry
Defense ImpairmentT1112 Modify Registry

Event coverage

ProviderEventTitle
SysmonEvent ID 1Process creation
Security-AuditingEvent ID 4688A new process has been created.

Rule body yaml

title: Registry Modification Attempt Via VBScript
id: 921aa10f-2e74-4cca-9498-98f9ca4d6fdf
related:
    - id: 2a0a169d-cc66-43ce-9ae2-6e678e54e46a
      type: similar
    - id: 7f4c43f9-b1a5-4c7d-b24a-b41bf3a3ebf2
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects attempts to modify the registry using VBScript's CreateObject("Wscript.shell") and RegWrite methods via common LOLBINs.
    It could be an attempt to modify the registry for persistence without using straightforward methods like regedit.exe, reg.exe, or PowerShell.
    Threat Actors may use this technique to evade detection by security solutions that monitor for direct registry modifications through traditional tools.
references:
    - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mauricefielenbach_livingofftheland-redteam-persistence-activity-7344801774182051843-TE00/
    - https://www.nextron-systems.com/2025/07/29/detecting-the-most-popular-mitre-persistence-method-registry-run-keys-startup-folder/
date: 2025-08-13
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.execution
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1112
    - attack.t1059.005
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'CreateObject'
            - 'Wscript.shell'
            - '.RegWrite'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    CommandLine|contains|all:
        - 'CreateObject'
        - 'Wscript.shell'
        - '.RegWrite'

Indicators

Each row is a field, operator, and value that the rule matches. The corpus column counts how many other rules in the catalog look for the same combination: high numbers point to widely-used, community-vetted indicators. Blank or 1 shows that the indicator is specific to this rule.

FieldKindValues
CommandLinematch
  • .RegWrite
  • CreateObject corpus 3 (sigma 2, kusto 1)
  • Wscript.shell