t1547-014-active-setup

name	T1547.014_active-setup
description	Adversaries may achieve persistence by adding a Registry key to the Active Setup of the local machine.
category	configuration
version	18.1
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["mitre-attack","enterprise","t1547.014","persistence","privilege-escalation","windows","sub-technique"]
technique_id	T1547.014
tactic	persistence
all_tactics	["persistence","privilege-escalation"]
platforms	["Windows"]
mitre_url	https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547/014
tech_stack	["windows"]
cwe_ids	["CWE-276"]
chains_with	["T1547","T1547.001","T1547.002","T1547.003","T1547.004","T1547.005","T1547.006","T1547.007","T1547.008","T1547.009","T1547.010","T1547.012","T1547.013","T1547.015"]
prerequisites	["T1547"]
severity_boost	{"T1547":"Chain with T1547 for deeper attack path","T1547.001":"Chain with T1547.001 for deeper attack path","T1547.002":"Chain with T1547.002 for deeper attack path"}

T1547.014 Active Setup

Sub-technique of: T1547

High-Level Description

Adversaries may achieve persistence by adding a Registry key to the Active Setup of the local machine. Active Setup is a Windows mechanism that is used to execute programs when a user logs in. The value stored in the Registry key will be executed after a user logs into the computer. These programs will be executed under the context of the user and will have the account's associated permissions level.

Adversaries may abuse Active Setup by creating a key under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components</code> and setting a malicious value for StubPath. This value will serve as the program that will be executed when a user logs into the computer.

Adversaries can abuse these components to execute malware, such as remote access tools, to maintain persistence through system reboots. Adversaries may also use Masquerading to make the Registry entries look as if they are associated with legitimate programs.

Kill Chain Phase

• Persistence (TA0003)
• Privilege Escalation (TA0004)

Platforms: Windows

What to Check

• Identify if Active Setup technique is applicable to target environment
• Check Windows systems for indicators of Active Setup
• Assess detection coverage (1 detection strategies)

How to Test

Atomic Red Team Tests

The following tests are from Atomic Red Team and provide actionable ways to test this technique:

Atomic Test 1: HKLM - Add atomic_test key to launch executable as part of user setup

This test will create an "atomic_test" key under 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components' to launch calc by configuring an active setup executable and forcing to run active setup using the "runonce.exe /AlternateShellStartup" command. Without the "runonce.exe /AlternateShellStartup" command it would run during the next logon for each user.

Note: If you logout before running the cleanup command, you will be required to go through the OOBE (out-of-box experience) setup sequence to log back in. The payload will only run once unless the cleanup command is run in between tests.

Active Setup Explained

Supported Platforms: windows Yes