Detect Logon Script (Windows) in IBM QRadar
Adversaries may use Windows logon scripts automatically executed at logon initialization to establish persistence. Windows allows logon scripts to be run whenever a specific user or group of users log into a system. This is done via adding a path to a script to the HKCU\Environment\UserInitMprLogonScript Registry key. Adversaries such as APT28, Cobalt Group, and malware families including Attor, JHUHUGIT, KGH_SPY, and Zebrocy have all leveraged this technique to maintain persistence on compromised systems.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Persistence Privilege Escalation
- Sub-technique
- T1037.001 Logon Script (Windows)
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1037/001/
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
DATEFORMAT(starttime, 'YYYY-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') AS EventTime,
logsourcename(logsourceid) AS LogSource,
username AS ActingUser,
"ObjectName" AS RegistryKey,
"NewValue" AS ScriptPath,
sourceip AS HostIP,
hostname AS HostName,
QIDNAME(qid) AS EventName,
CASE
WHEN LOWER("NewValue") MATCHES '.*\.(bat|cmd|ps1|vbs|js|exe|hta|wsf|scr)' THEN 1
ELSE 0
END AS IsSuspiciousExtension,
CASE
WHEN LOWER("NewValue") MATCHES '.*(appdata|temp|tmp|users\\.+|programdata).*' THEN 1
ELSE 0
END AS IsInUserWritablePath
FROM events
WHERE
LOGSOURCETYPEID IN (12, 14, 432)
AND qid IN (5200020, 5200021, 5200022)
AND (
"ObjectName" IMATCHES '%UserInitMprLogonScript%'
OR ("ObjectName" IMATCHES '%\\Environment%' AND "NewValue" IS NOT NULL)
)
AND magnitude > 3
ORDER BY starttime DESC
LAST 24 HOURSAQL query targeting Windows Security Event 4657 (registry value modified) and Sysmon Event 13 (RegistryValueSet) to detect writes to the UserInitMprLogonScript registry value under HKCU\Environment. Enriches results with suspicious extension and writable path indicators.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate enterprise logon script deployment by Windows Group Policy or domain controllers setting per-user logon scripts during provisioning
- Helpdesk tooling or remote management agents that register logon scripts as part of user session configuration
- Application installers that register post-install configuration scripts to run at next user logon via this registry mechanism
Other platforms for T1037.001
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Set UserInitMprLogonScript via reg.exe
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 13: TargetObject=HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment\UserInitMprLogonScript, Details=%TEMP%\logon_test.bat, Image=C:\Windows\System32\reg.exe. Sysmon Event ID 11: File creation of logon_test.bat in %TEMP%. Security Event ID 4688: Process creation for reg.exe with command line containing 'add HKCU\Environment /v UserInitMprLogonScript'.
- Test 2Set UserInitMprLogonScript via PowerShell Registry Provider
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 13: TargetObject=HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment\UserInitMprLogonScript, Details path ending in T1037001_test.ps1, Image=powershell.exe. Sysmon Event ID 11: File creation of T1037001_test.ps1 in %TEMP%. PowerShell ScriptBlock Log Event ID 4104: Contains 'Set-ItemProperty' and 'UserInitMprLogonScript'. DeviceRegistryEvents: RegistryValueName=UserInitMprLogonScript, InitiatingProcessFileName=powershell.exe.
- Test 3Set UserInitMprLogonScript via .NET Registry API (Fileless Technique)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 13: TargetObject=HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment\UserInitMprLogonScript, Details path ending in T1037001_logon.vbs in AppData\Microsoft, Image=powershell.exe. Sysmon Event ID 11: File creation of T1037001_logon.vbs in AppData\Microsoft. PowerShell ScriptBlock Log Event ID 4104: Contains 'Microsoft.Win32.Registry' and 'UserInitMprLogonScript'. Note: The initiating process is still powershell.exe even though reg.exe is not spawned.
- Test 4Simulate Logon Script Execution via userinit.exe Process Chain
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 13: Registry value set for UserInitMprLogonScript. Sysmon Event ID 1: Process creation for cmd.exe executing the batch file. Sysmon Event ID 11: Creation of T1037001_executed.txt marker file. Security Event ID 4688: cmd.exe process creation with command line referencing T1037001_exec_test.bat. On actual logon, the parent would be userinit.exe rather than the test process.
References (10)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1037/001/
- http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2014/11/14/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-18/
- https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc758918(v=ws.10).aspx
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-playbook-viewer/
- https://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/10/10/eset-attor-spy-platform/
- https://www.welivesecurity.com/2018/11/20/sednit-what-happened-zebrocy/
- https://blog.morphisec.com/cobalt-gang-2.0
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1037.001/T1037.001.md
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_logon_script_userinitmpr.yml
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4657
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