Goal

Detect modifications of the Windows shell folders registry key.

Strategy

Various compliance frameworks, including PCI DSS, SOC, and CIS, require monitoring of critical system and configuration files. Microsoft recommends the monitoring of the COM RPC debugging registry key located at ‘HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders’ based on known attack patterns.

Triage and response

1. Identify which user or process modified the registry key.
2. If these changes were not authorized, and you cannot confirm the safety of the changes, roll back the host to an acceptable configuration.

Requires Agent version 7.52 or later