{"id":"T1546.008","name":"Accessibility Features","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/008","tactics":["privilege-escalation","persistence"],"platforms":["Windows"],"live":true,"revoked":false,"deprecated":false,"revoked_by":null,"detection_strategies":[{"id":"DET0033","stix_id":"x-mitre-detection-strategy--05cb564b-df98-44d8-8982-176136eef26d","name":"Detection Strategy for Accessibility Feature Hijacking via Binary Replacement or Registry Modification","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/detectionstrategies/DET0033","analytics":[{"id":"AN0094","stix_id":"x-mitre-analytic--6b5b9cd2-f6ba-4ed5-bea2-30edbf85501e","name":"Analytic 0094","description":"Defenders can observe suspicious replacement or tampering of system accessibility binaries (e.g., utilman.exe, sethc.exe, osk.exe) and anomalous modifications to registry keys used to redirect accessibility programs (such as IFEO keys). Additionally, execution of cmd.exe or other suspicious binaries triggered from the login screen by SYSTEM can be correlated as part of a behavior chain.","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/detectionstrategies/DET0033#AN0094","platforms":["Windows"],"log_source_references":[{"name":"WinEventLog:Sysmon","channel":"EventCode=11","data_component":"DC0039","data_component_name":"File Creation","log_source_slug":"wineventlog-sysmon"},{"name":"WinEventLog:Sysmon","channel":"EventCode=1","data_component":"DC0032","data_component_name":"Process Creation","log_source_slug":"wineventlog-sysmon"},{"name":"WinEventLog:Sysmon","channel":"EventCode=13, 14","data_component":"DC0063","data_component_name":"Windows Registry Key Modification","log_source_slug":"wineventlog-sysmon"},{"name":"WinEventLog:Sysmon","channel":"EventCode=15","data_component":"DC0059","data_component_name":"File Metadata","log_source_slug":"wineventlog-sysmon"}],"mutable_elements":[{"field":"TimeWindow","description":"Time between registry modification and suspicious binary execution (e.g., < 1 hour) can be tuned."},{"field":"TargetBinaryNames","description":"Specific binaries monitored (e.g., utilman.exe, sethc.exe) can be adjusted per OS version and risk tolerance."},{"field":"ParentProcess","description":"Parent process of cmd.exe (e.g., winlogon.exe) may vary across legitimate and adversarial cases."},{"field":"UserContext","description":"Context of SYSTEM account execution vs. administrative sessions may influence tuning."},{"field":"CommandLineContains","description":"Tunable patterns such as launching cmd.exe, powershell, or LOLBins from accessibility binaries."}],"live":true,"detection_strategies":["DET0033"],"techniques":["T1546.008"]}],"live":true,"version":"1.0","techniques":["T1546.008"]}],"sigma_rules":[{"id":"1070db9a-3e5d-412e-8e7b-7183b616e1b3","title":"Persistence Via Sticky Key Backdoor","author":"Sreeman","status":"test","level":"critical","date":"2020-02-18","modified":"2023-03-07","description":"By replacing the sticky keys executable with the local admins CMD executable, an attacker is able to access a privileged windows console session without authenticating to the system.\nWhen the sticky keys are \"activated\" the privilleged shell is launched.\n","references":["https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2017/03/apt29_domain_frontin.html","https://www.clearskysec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ClearSky-Fox-Kitten-Campaign-v1.pdf","https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/jonathantrull/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors"],"logsource":{"product":"windows","category":"process_creation"},"tags":["attack.persistence","attack.t1546.008","attack.privilege-escalation"],"path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cmd_sticky_keys_replace.yml","techniques":["T1546.008"],"cves":[]},{"id":"2fdefcb3-dbda-401e-ae23-f0db027628bc","title":"Sticky Key Like Backdoor Execution","author":"Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), @twjackomo, Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community","status":"test","level":"critical","date":"2018-03-15","modified":"2023-03-07","description":"Detects the usage and installation of a backdoor that uses an option to register a malicious debugger for built-in tools that are accessible in the login screen","references":["https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/jonathantrull/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors"],"logsource":{"product":"windows","category":"process_creation"},"tags":["attack.privilege-escalation","attack.persistence","attack.t1546.008","car.2014-11-003","car.2014-11-008"],"path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cmd_sticky_key_like_backdoor_execution.yml","techniques":["T1546.008"],"cves":[]},{"id":"ae215552-081e-44c7-805f-be16f975c8a2","title":"Suspicious Debugger Registration Cmdline","author":"Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), oscd.community, Jonhnathan Ribeiro","status":"test","level":"high","date":"2019-09-06","modified":"2022-08-06","description":"Detects the registration of a debugger for a program that is available in the logon screen (sticky key backdoor).","references":["https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jonathantrull/2016/10/03/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors/","https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/6f3aa9362d72e806490a8abce245331030d1ab5ac77e400dd475748236a6cc81/"],"logsource":{"product":"windows","category":"process_creation"},"tags":["attack.persistence","attack.privilege-escalation","attack.t1546.008"],"path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_registry_install_reg_debugger_backdoor.yml","techniques":["T1546.008"],"cves":[]},{"id":"baca5663-583c-45f9-b5dc-ea96a22ce542","title":"Sticky Key Like Backdoor Usage - Registry","author":"Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), @twjackomo, Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community","status":"test","level":"critical","date":"2018-03-15","modified":"2022-11-26","description":"Detects the usage and installation of a backdoor that uses an option to register a malicious debugger for built-in tools that are accessible in the login screen","references":["https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jonathantrull/2016/10/03/detecting-sticky-key-backdoors/","https://bazaar.abuse.ch/sample/6f3aa9362d72e806490a8abce245331030d1ab5ac77e400dd475748236a6cc81/"],"logsource":{"product":"windows","category":"registry_event"},"tags":["attack.privilege-escalation","attack.persistence","attack.t1546.008","car.2014-11-003","car.2014-11-008"],"path":"rules/windows/registry/registry_event/registry_event_stickykey_like_backdoor.yml","techniques":["T1546.008"],"cves":[]},{"id":"c2c76b77-32be-4d1f-82c9-7e544bdfe0eb","title":"Potential Suspicious Activity Using SeCEdit","author":"Janantha Marasinghe","status":"test","level":"medium","date":"2022-11-18","modified":"2022-12-30","description":"Detects potential suspicious behaviour using secedit.exe. Such as exporting or modifying the security policy","references":["https://blueteamops.medium.com/secedit-and-i-know-it-595056dee53d","https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/secedit"],"logsource":{"product":"windows","category":"process_creation"},"tags":["attack.collection","attack.discovery","attack.persistence","attack.credential-access","attack.privilege-escalation","attack.execution","attack.stealth","attack.defense-impairment","attack.t1685.001","attack.t1547.001","attack.t1505.005","attack.t1556.002","attack.t1685","attack.t1574.007","attack.t1564.002","attack.t1546.008","attack.t1546.007","attack.t1547.014","attack.t1547.010","attack.t1547.002","attack.t1557","attack.t1082"],"path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_secedit_execution.yml","techniques":["T1685.001","T1547.001","T1505.005","T1556.002","T1685","T1574.007","T1564.002","T1546.008","T1546.007","T1547.014","T1547.010","T1547.002","T1557","T1082"],"cves":[]},{"id":"e9b61244-893f-427c-b287-3e708f321c6b","title":"Potential Privilege Escalation Using Symlink Between Osk and Cmd","author":"frack113","status":"test","level":"high","date":"2022-12-11","modified":"2022-12-20","description":"Detects the creation of a symbolic link between \"cmd.exe\" and the accessibility on-screen keyboard binary (osk.exe) using \"mklink\". This technique provides an elevated command prompt to the user from the login screen without the need to log in.","references":["https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/5c1e6f1b4fafd01c8d1ece85f510160fc1275fbf/atomics/T1546.008/T1546.008.md","https://ss64.com/nt/mklink.html"],"logsource":{"product":"windows","category":"process_creation"},"tags":["attack.privilege-escalation","attack.persistence","attack.t1546.008"],"path":"rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cmd_mklink_osk_cmd.yml","techniques":["T1546.008"],"cves":[]}],"kev_cves":[],"_built":"2026-08-24 19:45 UTC","_attack_version":"19.2","_sigma_commit":"da9bb07d642a2826e89702445d32c795209ec108"}