Disable Internal Tools or Feature in Registry

  1title: Disable Internal Tools or Feature in Registry
  2id: e2482f8d-3443-4237-b906-cc145d87a076
  3related:
  4    - id: 1c3121ed-041b-4d97-a075-07f54f20fb4a
  5      type: obsolete
  6    - id: ccc946a3-f65a-432a-bb6f-efc6acc1fd27
  7      type: similar
  8status: test
  9description: Detects registry modifications that change features of internal Windows tools (malware like Agent Tesla uses this technique)
 10references:
 11    - https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/7bde840c7e8c36dce4c3bac937bcf39f36a6f118001b406bfbbc25451ce44fb4/
 12    - https://blogs.vmware.com/security/2022/11/batloader-the-evasive-downloader-malware.html
 13    - https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/detections/pum-optional-nodispbackgroundpage
 14    - https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/detections/pum-optional-nodispcpl
 15    - https://www.mandiant.com/resources/unc2165-shifts-to-evade-sanctions
 16    - https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/cybervolk-returns-flawed-volklocker-brings-new-features-with-growing-pains/
 17author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), CrimpSec
 18date: 2022-03-18
 19modified: 2026-10-18
 20tags:
 21    - attack.persistence
 22    - attack.defense-impairment
 23    - attack.t1112
 24logsource:
 25    category: registry_set
 26    product: windows
 27detection:
 28    selection_set_1:
 29        TargetObject|endswith:
 30            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisableCMD'
 31            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\HideSCAHealth'
 32            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\HideSCANetwork'
 33            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\HideSCAVolume'
 34            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoClose'
 35            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoControlPanel'
 36            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDesktop'
 37            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDrives'
 38            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoFileMenu'
 39            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoFind'
 40            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoLogOff'
 41            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoPropertiesMyDocuments'
 42            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoRun'
 43            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoSetTaskbar'
 44            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoTrayContextMenu'
 45            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\StartMenuLogOff'
 46            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableChangePassword'
 47            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableLockWorkstation'
 48            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableRegistryTools'
 49            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\DisableTaskmgr'
 50            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\NoDispBackgroundPage'
 51            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\NoDispCPL'
 52            - 'SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\DisableNotificationCenter'
 53            - 'SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\DisableCMD'
 54        Details: 'DWORD (0x00000001)'
 55    selection_set_2:
 56        TargetObject|endswith: 'SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System\DisableCMD'
 57        Details: 'DWORD (0x00000002)'
 58    selection_set_0:
 59        TargetObject|endswith:
 60            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin'
 61            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\InactivityTimeoutSecs'
 62            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\shutdownwithoutlogon'
 63            - 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PushNotifications\ToastEnabled'
 64            - 'SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Storage\Write Protection'
 65            - 'SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies\WriteProtect'
 66        Details: 'DWORD (0x00000000)'
 67    condition: 1 of selection_set_*
 68falsepositives:
 69    - Legitimate script or Group Policy (GPO) configuration by administrators
 70level: medium
 71simulation:
 72    - type: atomic-red-team
 73      name: Disable Windows Registry Tool
 74      technique: T1112
 75      atomic_guid: ac34b0f7-0f85-4ac0-b93e-3ced2bc69bb8
 76    - type: atomic-red-team
 77      name: Disable Windows CMD application
 78      technique: T1112
 79      atomic_guid: d2561a6d-72bd-408c-b150-13efe1801c2a
 80    - type: atomic-red-team
 81      name: Disable Windows Task Manager application
 82      technique: T1112
 83      atomic_guid: af254e70-dd0e-4de6-9afe-a994d9ea8b62
 84    - type: atomic-red-team
 85      name: Disable Windows Notification Center
 86      technique: T1112
 87      atomic_guid: c0d6d67f-1f63-42cc-95c0-5fd6b20082ad
 88    - type: atomic-red-team
 89      name: Disable Windows Lock Workstation Feature
 90      technique: T1112
 91      atomic_guid: 3dacb0d2-46ee-4c27-ac1b-f9886bf91a56
 92    - type: atomic-red-team
 93      name: Disable Windows Change Password Feature
 94      technique: T1112
 95      atomic_guid: d4a6da40-618f-454d-9a9e-26af552aaeb0
 96    - type: atomic-red-team
 97      name: Disable Windows Shutdown Button
 98      technique: T1112
 99      atomic_guid: 6e0d1131-2d7e-4905-8ca5-d6172f05d03d
100regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_disable_function_user/info.yml