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Potential Persistence Via AppCompat RegisterAppRestart Layer

Detects the setting of the REGISTERAPPRESTART compatibility layer on an application. This compatibility layer allows an application to register for restart using the "RegisterApplicationRestart" API. This can be potentially abused as a persistence mechanism.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1546.011

privilege-escalationpersistence

Detection Query

selection:
  TargetObject|contains: \SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers\
  Details|contains: REGISTERAPPRESTART
condition: selection

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2024-01-01

Data Sources

windowsRegistry Set Events

Platforms

windows

References

https://github.com/nasbench/Misc-Research/blob/d114d6a5e0a437d3818e492ef9864367152543e7/Other/Persistence-Via-RegisterAppRestart-Shim.md

Tags

attack.privilege-escalationattack.persistenceattack.t1546.011

Raw Content

title: Potential Persistence Via AppCompat RegisterAppRestart Layer
id: b86852fb-4c77-48f9-8519-eb1b2c308b59
status: test
description: |
    Detects the setting of the REGISTERAPPRESTART compatibility layer on an application.
    This compatibility layer allows an application to register for restart using the "RegisterApplicationRestart" API.
    This can be potentially abused as a persistence mechanism.
references:
    - https://github.com/nasbench/Misc-Research/blob/d114d6a5e0a437d3818e492ef9864367152543e7/Other/Persistence-Via-RegisterAppRestart-Shim.md
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2024-01-01
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.011
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject|contains: '\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers\'
        Details|contains: 'REGISTERAPPRESTART'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate applications making use of this feature for compatibility reasons
level: medium