Potential AutoLogger Sessions Tampering

 1title: Potential AutoLogger Sessions Tampering
 2id: f37b4bce-49d0-4087-9f5b-58bffda77316
 3related:
 4    - id: d7b81144-b866-48a4-9bcc-275dc69d870e
 5      type: similar
 6status: test
 7description: |
 8    Detects tampering with autologger trace sessions which is a technique used by attackers to disable logging.
 9    The AutoLogger event tracing session records events up that occur early in the operating system boot process.
10    Applications and device drivers can use the AutoLogger session to capture traces before the user logs in, and also used by security solutions as telemetry source.
11    Adversaries may disable these sessions to evade detection and prevent security monitoring of early boot activities and system events.    
12references:
13    - https://twitter.com/MichalKoczwara/status/1553634816016498688
14    - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/10/18/icedid-to-xinglocker-ransomware-in-24-hours/
15    - https://i.blackhat.com/EU-21/Wednesday/EU-21-Teodorescu-Veni-No-Vidi-No-Vici-Attacks-On-ETW-Blind-EDRs.pdf
16    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/etw/configuring-and-starting-an-autologger-session
17    - https://blog.palantir.com/tampering-with-windows-event-tracing-background-offense-and-defense-4be7ac62ac63
18author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
19date: 2022-08-01
20modified: 2025-12-26
21tags:
22    - attack.defense-impairment
23    - attack.t1685.001
24logsource:
25    category: registry_set
26    product: windows
27detection:
28    selection_main:
29        TargetObject|contains: '\Control\WMI\Autologger\'
30    selection_values:
31        TargetObject|contains: # We only care about some autologger to avoid FP. Add more if you need
32            - '\EventLog-'
33            - '\Defender'
34        TargetObject|endswith:
35            - '\Enabled'
36            - '\Start'
37        Details: DWORD (0x00000000)
38    filter_main_wevtutil:
39        Image: 'C:\Windows\system32\wevtutil.exe'
40    filter_main_defender:
41        Image|startswith:
42            - 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\'
43            - 'C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\'
44            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\'
45        Image|endswith: '\MsMpEng.exe'
46        TargetObject|contains:
47            - '\DefenderApiLogger\'
48            - '\DefenderAuditLogger\'
49    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
50falsepositives:
51    - Unknown
52level: high
53regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_disable_autologger_sessions/info.yml
54simulation:
55    - type: atomic-red-team
56      name: Disable EventLog-Application Auto Logger Session Via Registry - Cmd
57      technique: T1562.001
58      atomic_guid: 653c6e17-14a2-4849-851d-f1c0cc8ea9ab
59    - type: atomic-red-team
60      name: Disable EventLog-Application Auto Logger Session Via Registry - PowerShell
61      technique: T1562.001
62      atomic_guid: da86f239-9bd3-4e85-92ed-4a94ef111a1c
63    - type: atomic-red-team
64      name: Disable EventLog-Application ETW Provider Via Registry - Cmd
65      technique: T1562.001
66      atomic_guid: 1cac9b54-810e-495c-8aac-989e0076583b
67    - type: atomic-red-team
68      name: Disable EventLog-Application ETW Provider Via Registry - PowerShell
69      technique: T1562.001
70      atomic_guid: 8f907648-1ebf-4276-b0f0-e2678ca474f0