- Tactics
- Persistence , Privilege Escalation
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows, Network Devices
- Reference
- attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547
Description
Adversaries may configure system settings to automatically execute a program during system boot or logon to maintain persistence or gain higher-level privileges on compromised systems. Operating systems may have mechanisms for automatically running a program on system boot or account logon.(Citation: Microsoft Run Key)(Citation: MSDN Authentication Packages)(Citation: Microsoft TimeProvider)(Citation: Cylance Reg Persistence Sept 2013)(Citation: Linux Kernel Programming) These mechanisms may include automatically executing programs that are placed in specially designated directories or are referenced by repositories that store configuration information, such as the Windows Registry. An adversary may achieve the same goal by modifying or extending features of the kernel.
Since some boot or logon autostart programs run with higher privileges, an adversary may leverage these to elevate privileges.
Sub-techniques
- T1547.001 — Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
- T1547.002 — Authentication Package
- T1547.003 — Time Providers
- T1547.004 — Winlogon Helper DLL
- T1547.005 — Security Support Provider
- T1547.006 — Kernel Modules and Extensions
- T1547.007 — Re-opened Applications
- T1547.008 — LSASS Driver
- T1547.009 — Shortcut Modification
- T1547.010 — Port Monitors
- T1547.012 — Print Processors
- T1547.013 — XDG Autostart Entries
- T1547.014 — Active Setup
- T1547.015 — Login Items
How GTK Cyber trains on this
GTK Cyber's Threat Hunting with Data Science course teaches you to build machine-learning detections for techniques like this across the MITRE ATT&CK framework, including the Persistence, Privilege Escalation tactic this technique falls under. Practitioner-led, focused on real detections, not memorizing technique IDs.
Related techniques
- T1037 — Boot or Logon Initialization Scripts
- T1053 — Scheduled Task/Job
- T1055 — Process Injection
- T1068 — Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
- T1078 — Valid Accounts
- T1098 — Account Manipulation
- T1112 — Modify Registry
- T1133 — External Remote Services
- T1134 — Access Token Manipulation
- T1136 — Create Account
- T1137 — Office Application Startup
- T1176 — Software Extensions