title: Removal of Potential COM Hijacking Registry Keys
id: 96f697b0-b499-4e5d-9908-a67bec11cdb6
status: test
description: A General detection to trigger for processes removing .*\shell\open\command registry keys. Registry keys that might have been used for COM hijacking activities.
author: Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research)
references:
  - https://github.com/OTRF/detection-hackathon-apt29/issues/7
  - https://threathunterplaybook.com/evals/apt29/detections/3.C.1_22A46621-7A92-48C1-81BF-B3937EB4FDC3.html
  - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/launch
  - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/shobjidl_core/nn-shobjidl_core-iexecutecommand
  - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/shell-and-managed-code
date: 2020/05/02
modified: 2022/03/05
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: registry_event
detection:
  selection:
    EventType: 'DeleteKey'
    TargetObject|endswith: '\shell\open\command'
  filter_svchost:
    Image: 'C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe'
  filter_office:
    Image|startswith: 
      - 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\'
      - 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\Updates\'
    Image|endswith: '\OfficeClickToRun.exe'
  filter_integrator:
    Image: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\integration\integrator.exe'
  filter_dropbox:
    Image|endswith: '\Dropbox.exe'
    TargetObject|startswith: 'HKCR\Dropbox.'
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
tags:
  - attack.defense_evasion
  - attack.t1112
