title: Ke3chang Registry Key Modifications
id: 7b544661-69fc-419f-9a59-82ccc328f205
status: experimental
description: Detects Registry modifications performed by Ke3chang malware in campaigns running in 2019 and 2020
references:
    - https://www.verfassungsschutz.de/embed/broschuere-2020-06-bfv-cyber-brief-2020-01.pdf
    - https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/operation-ke3chang-resurfaces-with-new-tidepool-malware/
tags:
    - attack.g0004
    - attack.defense_evasion
    - attack.t1089 # an old one
    - attack.t1562.001
author: Markus Neis, Swisscom 
date: 2020/06/18
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection1:
        # Ke3chang and TidePool both modify the IEHarden registry key, as well as the following list of keys. 
        # Setting these registry keys is unique to the Ke3chang and TidePool malware families.
        # HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Check_Associations
        # HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\DisableFirstRunCustomize
        # HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\IEharden
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '-Property DWORD -name DisableFirstRunCustomize -value 2 -Force'
            - '-Property String -name Check_Associations -value'
            - '-Property DWORD -name IEHarden -value 0 -Force'         
    condition: selection1
falsepositives:
    - Will need to be looked for combinations of those processes
level: critical