Sigma Rule Library

Blackbyte Ransomware Registry

Detects specific windows registry modifications made by BlackByte ransomware variants. BlackByte set three different registry values to escalate privileges and begin setting the stage for lateral movement and encryption. This rule triggers when any of the following registry keys are set to DWORD 1, however all three should be investigated as part of a larger BlackByte ransomware detection and response effort.

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Detection logic

selection

TargetObject:
  - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy
  - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLinkedConnections
  - HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\LongPathsEnabled
Details: DWORD (0x00000001)

Condition

selection

Raw YAML

title: Blackbyte Ransomware Registry
id: 83314318-052a-4c90-a1ad-660ece38d276
status: test
description: |
    Detects specific windows registry modifications made by BlackByte ransomware variants.
    BlackByte set three different registry values to escalate privileges and begin setting the stage for lateral movement and encryption.
    This rule triggers when any of the following registry keys are set to DWORD 1, however all three should be investigated as part of a larger BlackByte ransomware detection and response effort.
references:
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/blackbyte-ransomware/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
    - https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/blackbyte-ransomware-pt-1-in-depth-analysis/
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-24
modified: 2025-10-21
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1112
    - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetObject:
            - 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy'
            - 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\EnableLinkedConnections'
            - 'HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\LongPathsEnabled'
        Details: 'DWORD (0x00000001)'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

False positives

  • Unknown

References

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