Detectionhightest

Change Default File Association To Executable Via Assoc

Detects when a program changes the default file association of any extension to an executable. When a file is opened, the default program used to open the file (also called the file association or handler) is checked. File association selections are stored in the Windows Registry and can be edited by users, administrators, or programs that have Registry access or by administrators using the built-in assoc utility. Applications can modify the file association for a given file extension to call an arbitrary program when a file with the given extension is opened.

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Launch
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)Created Tue Jun 28Updated Mon Mar 06ae6f14e6-14de-45b0-9f44-c0986f50dc89windows
Log Source
WindowsProcess Creation
ProductWindows← raw: windows
CategoryProcess Creation← raw: process_creation

Events generated when a new process is spawned on the system. Covers command-line arguments, parent/child relationships, and process metadata.

Detection Logic
Detection Logic3 selectors
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'Cmd.Exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'assoc '
            - 'exefile'
    filter:
        CommandLine|contains: '.exe=exefile'
    condition: all of selection_* and not filter
False Positives
Unknown

False positive likelihood has not been assessed. Additional context may be needed during triage.