Hide User Account From Sign-In Screen
The following analytic detects a suspicious registry modification that hides a user account from the Windows Login screen. It leverages data from the Endpoint.Registry data model, specifically monitoring changes to…
Description
The following analytic detects a suspicious registry modification that hides a user account from the Windows Login screen. It leverages data from the Endpoint.Registry data model, specifically monitoring changes to the registry path "*\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\\SpecialAccounts\\Userlist*" with a value of "0x00000000". This activity is significant as it may indicate an adversary attempting to create a hidden admin account to avoid detection and maintain persistence on the compromised machine. If confirmed malicious, this could allow the attacker to maintain undetected access and control over the system, posing a severe security risk.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- sysmon_eventid_13
Known benign triggers
- No false positives have been identified at this time.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| thedfirreport.com/2020/04/20/sqlserver-or-the-miner-in-the-basement/ | 20from 2 sources |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 834ba832-ad89-11eb-937d-acde48001122
- Tagged by the source as
- AzorultWarzone RATWindows Registry AbuseXMRigEndpointendpointSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securityendpoint
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1