Endpoint Security Evasion via Malicious AppLocker Deny Rules


Description

Detects the creation or modification of AppLocker executable rules that explicitly deny execution of known endpoint security or EDR components by file path. Adversaries may abuse AppLocker policies to prevent security agents from starting after reboot or policy refresh, resulting in impaired defensive visibility and protection on the endpoint.

Query · eql

registry where event.action == "modification" and registry.value == "Value" and
 registry.path : "H*\\Software\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\SrpV2\\Exe\\*\\Value" and
 registry.data.strings : "*Deny*" and
 registry.data.strings : ("*Elastic*",
                          "*WinDefend*",
                          "*MsMpEng*",
                          "*MpDefenderCoreService*",
                          "*Windows Defender*",
                          "*CrowdStrike*",
                          "*SentinelOne*")
Raw source Endpoint Security Evasion via Malicious AppLocker Deny Rules · Elastic TOML
Esc
Published by elastic/protections-artifacts ↗, licensed under Elastic License 2.0 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified.
[rule]
description = """
Detects the creation or modification of AppLocker executable rules that explicitly deny execution of known endpoint
security or EDR components by file path. Adversaries may abuse AppLocker policies to prevent security agents from
starting after reboot or policy refresh, resulting in impaired defensive visibility and protection on the endpoint.
"""
id = "2ace03f0-e37f-444a-a208-fa6da672f73c"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Endpoint Security Evasion via Malicious AppLocker Deny Rules"
os_list = ["windows"]
reference = ["https://github.com/zero2504/EDR-GhostLocker/tree/main"]
version = "1.0.1"

query = '''
registry where event.action == "modification" and registry.value == "Value" and
 registry.path : "H*\\Software\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\SrpV2\\Exe\\*\\Value" and
 registry.data.strings : "*Deny*" and
 registry.data.strings : ("*Elastic*",
                          "*WinDefend*",
                          "*MsMpEng*",
                          "*MpDefenderCoreService*",
                          "*Windows Defender*",
                          "*CrowdStrike*",
                          "*SentinelOne*")
'''

min_endpoint_version = "7.16.0"
optional_actions = []
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0
tree = true

[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1562"
name = "Impair Defenses"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1562.001"
name = "Disable or Modify Tools"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/001/"



[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"

[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "7.16.0"

Detection rules belong to the projects that publish them and remain under their own licenses. This site indexes and links to them; it claims no rights in them.