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MediumSplunk security contentRaven Tait +1

Windows Outlook Dialogs Disabled from Unusual Process

The following analytic detects the modification of the Windows Registry key "PONT_STRING" under Outlook Options. This disables certain dialog popups, which could allow malicious scripts to run without notice. This…

Description

The following analytic detects the modification of the Windows Registry key "PONT_STRING" under Outlook Options. This disables certain dialog popups, which could allow malicious scripts to run without notice. This detection leverages data from the Endpoint.Registry datamodel to search for this key changing from an unusual process. This activity is significant as it is commonly associated with some malware infections, indicating potential malicious intent to harvest email information.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.

Log source category
sysmon_eventid_13

Known benign triggers

  • It is unusual for processes other than Outlook to modify this feature on a Windows system since it is a default Outlook functionality. Although no false positives have been identified, use the provided filter macro to tune the search.

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