name: Disabling Task Manager
id: dac279bc-9202-11eb-b7fb-acde48001122
version: 2
date: '2022-01-28'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
type: TTP
datamodel:
- Endpoint
description: This search is to identifies modification of registry to disable the
  task manager of windows operating system. this event or technique are commonly seen
  in malware such as RAT, Trojan, TrojanSpy or worm to prevent the user to terminate
  their process.
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count from datamodel=Endpoint.Registry
  where Registry.registry_path= "*\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\System\\DisableTaskMgr"
  Registry.registry_value_data = "0x00000001" by _time span=1h Registry.dest Registry.user
  Registry.registry_path Registry.registry_value_name Registry.registry_key_name Registry.process_guid
  Registry.registry_value_data | `drop_dm_object_name(Registry)` |rename process_guid
  as proc_guid |join proc_guid, _time [| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count
  FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes by _time span=1h Processes.process_id Processes.process_name
  Processes.process Processes.dest Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process
  Processes.process_guid | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` |rename process_guid as
  proc_guid | fields _time dest user parent_process_name parent_process process_name
  process_path process proc_guid registry_path registry_value_name registry_value_data
  registry_key_name] | table _time dest user parent_process_name parent_process process_name
  process_path process proc_guid registry_path registry_value_name registry_value_data
  registry_key_name | `disabling_task_manager_filter`'
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information
  on process that include the name of the process responsible for the changes from
  your endpoints into the `Endpoint` datamodel in the `Registry` node. Also make sure
  that this registry was included in your config files ex. sysmon config to be monitored.
known_false_positives: admin may disable this application for non technical user.
references:
- https://any.run/report/ea4ea08407d4ee72e009103a3b77e5a09412b722fdef67315ea63f22011152af/a866d7b1-c236-4f26-a391-5ae32213dfc4#registry
- https://blog.talosintelligence.com/2020/05/threat-roundup-0424-0501.html
tags:
  analytic_story:
  - Windows Defense Evasion Tactics
  - Windows Registry Abuse
  confidence: 60
  context:
  - Source:Endpoint
  - Stage:Defense Evasion
  dataset:
  - https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1562.001/win_app_defender_disabling/windows-security.log
  - https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1562.001/win_app_defender_disabling/windows-system.log
  - https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1562.001/win_app_defender_disabling/windows-sysmon.log
  impact: 70
  kill_chain_phases:
  - Exploitation
  message: The Windows Task Manager was disabled on $dest$ by $user$.
  mitre_attack_id:
  - T1562.001
  - T1562
  observable:
  - name: user
    type: User
    role:
    - Victim
  - name: dest
    type: Hostname
    role:
    - Victim
  product:
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  required_fields:
  - _time
  - Registry.registry_key_name
  - Registry.registry_path
  - Registry.user
  - Registry.dest
  - Registry.registry_value_name
  risk_score: 42
  security_domain: endpoint
  supported_tas:
  - Splunk_TA_microsoft_sysmon
  asset_type: Endpoint