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Detection rules › Sigma

MaxMpxCt Registry Value Changed

Status
test
Severity
low
Log source
product windows, category registry_set
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
Source
github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma

Detects changes to the "MaxMpxCt" registry value. MaxMpxCt specifies the maximum outstanding network requests for the server per client, which is used when negotiating a Server Message Block (SMB) connection with a client. Note if the value is set beyond 125 older Windows 9x clients will fail to negotiate. Ransomware threat actors and operators (specifically BlackCat) were seen increasing this value in order to handle a higher volume of traffic.

MITRE ATT&CK coverage

TacticTechniques
StealthT1070.005 Indicator Removal: Network Share Connection Removal

Event coverage

ProviderEventTitle
SysmonEvent ID 13RegistryEvent (Value Set)

Rule body yaml

title: MaxMpxCt Registry Value Changed
id: 0e6a9e62-627e-496c-aef5-bfa39da29b5e
status: test
description: |
    Detects changes to the "MaxMpxCt" registry value.
    MaxMpxCt specifies the maximum outstanding network requests for the server per client, which is used when negotiating a Server Message Block (SMB) connection with a client. Note if the value is set beyond 125 older Windows 9x clients will fail to negotiate.
    Ransomware threat actors and operators (specifically BlackCat) were seen increasing this value in order to handle a higher volume of traffic.
references:
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/blackcat-ransomware-affiliate-ttps
    - https://securityscorecard.com/research/deep-dive-into-alphv-blackcat-ransomware
    - https://www.intrinsec.com/alphv-ransomware-gang-analysis/?cn-reloaded=1
    - https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/blackcat-ransomware-highly-configurable-rust-driven-raas-on-the-prowl-for-victims/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2024-03-19
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1070.005
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject|endswith: '\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\MaxMpxCt'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: low

Stages and Predicates

Stage 0: condition

selection

Stage 1: selection

selection:
    TargetObject|endswith: '\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\MaxMpxCt'

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
TargetObjectends_with
  • \Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\MaxMpxCt