Registry Modification of MS-settings Protocol Handler

SIGMA detection rule by frack113, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) · NOASSERTION

Detects registry modifications to the 'ms-settings' protocol handler, which is frequently targeted for UAC bypass or persistence. Attackers can modify this registry to execute malicious code with elevated privileges by hijacking the command execution path.

title: Registry Modification of MS-settings Protocol Handler
id: dd3ee8cc-f751-41c9-ba53-5a32ed47e563
related:
    - id: 152f3630-77c1-4284-bcc0-4cc68ab2f6e7
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects registry modifications to the 'ms-settings' protocol handler, which is frequently targeted for UAC bypass or persistence.
    Attackers can modify this registry to execute malicious code with elevated privileges by hijacking the command execution path.
references:
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/12/13/diavol-ransomware/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/25/f/water-curse.html
author: frack113, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-12-20
modified: 2026-01-24
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1548.002
    - attack.t1546.001
    - attack.t1112
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_reg_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\reg.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'reg.exe'
    selection_pwsh_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'powershell.exe'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
    selection_reg_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: 'add'
    selection_pwsh_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'New-ItemProperty'
            - 'Set-ItemProperty'
            - 'ni '
            - 'sp '
    selection_cli_key:
        CommandLine|contains: '\ms-settings\shell\open\command'
    condition: (all of selection_reg_* or all of selection_pwsh_*) and selection_cli_key
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

[[ currentRule.title && currentRule.title.length > 60 ? currentRule.title.slice(0, 60) + '…' : currentRule.title ]]

e9d6ef52-211b-4f9a-a4a8-6ca49bf4305e

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Executable code, not a declarative rule

This submission is arbitrary [[ currentRule.format ? currentRule.format.toUpperCase() : '' ]] code, not a declarative detection rule — review it as you would any script before running it, and note that it cannot be safely aggregated or auto-executed alongside YARA/Sigma/Suricata/CRS rules.

Rejected pattern present

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Format & documentation suggestions

Not a security issue — this rule is valid and was accepted as-is. These are optional fields/conventions its own format recommends, mainly affecting its quality score and how well it documents itself for other reviewers.

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