Techniques › T1688 › AN0323
AN0323 Analytic 0323
Windows · attack.mitre.org · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2
<p>Abuse of safe mode via BCD modification, boot configuration utilities (bcdedit.exe, bootcfg.exe), and registry persistence under SafeBoot keys. Defender view: suspicious boot configuration changes correlated with registry edits that enable adversary persistence or disable defenses.</p>
- Detects
- T1688 Safe Mode Boot
- Part of
- DET0116 Detection Strategy for Safe Mode Boot Abuse
Log sources and channels
Exactly as MITRE states them in x_mitre_log_source_references. Where a channel is vague, it is vague in the source; kevmap does not tidy it.
| Log source | Channel | Data component |
|---|---|---|
| WinEventLog:Security | EventCode=4688 | DC0032 Process Creation |
| WinEventLog:Sysmon | EventCode=13, 14 | DC0063 Windows Registry Key Modification |
| WinEventLog:Sysmon | EventCode=12 | DC0056 Windows Registry Key Creation |
Mutable elements
Parameters MITRE marks as environment-specific. These are the knobs you are expected to tune; they are why an analytic is not a rule.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
SafeBootRegistryPaths | Customize monitored registry paths for safe mode service additions. |
AllowedAdminTools | Whitelist legitimate administrative use of bcdedit/bootcfg for troubleshooting. |
TimeWindow | Correlate registry modifications and boot configuration commands within a short timeframe. |