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T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution

Adversaries may configure system settings to automatically execute a program during system boot or logon to maintain persistence or gain higher-level privileges on compromised systems. Operating systems may have mechanisms for automatically running a program on system boot or account logon.(Citation: Microsoft Run Key)(Citation: MSDN Authentication Packages)(Citation: Microsoft TimeProvider)(Citation: Cylance Reg Persistence Sept 2013)(Citation: Linux Kernel Programming) These mechanisms may include automatically executing programs that are placed in specially designated directories or are referenced by repositories that store configuration information, such as the Windows Registry. An adversary may achieve the same goal by modifying or extending features of the kernel.

Since some boot or logon autostart programs run with higher privileges, an adversary may leverage these to elevate privileges.

View in MITRE ATT&CK®

VERIS Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
action.malware.variety.Password dumper Password dumper (extract credential hashes) related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
action.malware.variety.RAM scraper RAM scraper or memory parser (capture data from volatile memory) related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
attribute.confidentiality.data_disclosure None related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
action.hacking.variety.Abuse of functionality Abuse of functionality. related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
action.hacking.variety.Backdoor Hacking action that creates a backdoor for use. related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
action.hacking.vector.Backdoor Hacking actions taken through a backdoor. C2 is only used by malware. related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
action.malware.variety.Backdoor Malware creates a backdoor capability for hacking. Child of 'RAT' when combined with 'Trojan'. Child of 'Backdoor or C2'. related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
action.malware.variety.Backdoor or C2 Malware creates a remote control capability, but it's unclear if it's a backdoor for hacking or C2 for malware. Parent of 'C2' and 'Backdoor'. related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
attribute.integrity.variety.Modify configuration Modified configuration or services related-to T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution

Azure Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
file_integrity_monitoring Microsoft Defender for Cloud: File Integrity Monitoring technique_scores T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
Comments
This control can detect boot or logon autostart execution.
References
  1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/file-integrity-monitoring-overview
alerts_for_linux_machines Alerts for Linux Machines technique_scores T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
Comments
This control is only relevant for Linux endpoint machines and the only sub-technique relevant for Linux is Kernel Modules and Extensions.
References
  1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/alerts-reference#alerts-linux
alerts_for_windows_machines Alerts for Windows Machines technique_scores T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
Comments
This control's detection is specific to a minority of this technique's sub-techniques resulting in a Minimal Coverage score and consequently an overall score of Minimal.
References
  1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/plan-defender-for-servers
  2. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/alerts-windows-machines
defender_for_app_service Microsoft Defender for Cloud: Defender for App Service technique_scores T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
Comments
This control only covers one platform and procedure for two of this technique's many sub-techniques, resulting in a Minimal score.
References
  1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/alerts-reference
  2. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/defender-for-app-service-introduction
  3. https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/app-service/
  4. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/plan-defender-for-servers

GCP Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
google_secops Google Security Operations technique_scores T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
Comments
Google Security Ops is able to trigger an alert based on creation or changes of registry keys and run keys found on Windows platforms. This technique was scored as minimal based on low or uncertain detection coverage factor. https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/blob/783e0e5947774785db1c55041b70176deeca6f46/mitre_attack/T1547_001_windows_registry_run_keys_startup_folder.yaral
References
  1. ['https://cloud.google.com/security/products/security-operations'
  2. 'https://cloud.google.com/chronicle/docs/secops/secops-overview'
  3. 'https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules']

ATT&CK Subtechniques

Technique ID Technique Name Number of Mappings
T1547.014 Active Setup 2
T1547.012 Print Processors 10
T1547.010 Port Monitors 2
T1547.009 Shortcut Modification 13
T1547.005 Security Support Provider 8
T1547.003 Time Providers 12
T1547.004 Winlogon Helper DLL 17
T1547.001 Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder 5
T1547.006 Kernel Modules and Extensions 22
T1547.002 Authentication Package 7
T1547.013 XDG Autostart Entries 17
T1547.007 Re-opened Applications 12
T1547.008 LSASS Driver 9