Shortcut File Written or Modified for Persistence | Elastic Security
[7.17]
Archived: 2026-04-05 23:04:23 UTC
Shortcut File Written or Modified for Persistence
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Identifies files written to or modified in the startup folder by commonly abused processes. Adversaries may use
this technique to maintain persistence.
Rule type: eql
Rule indices:
winlogbeat-*
logs-endpoint.events.*
logs-windows.*
Severity: medium
Risk score: 47
Runs every: 5 minutes
Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time )
Maximum alerts per execution: 100
Tags:
Elastic
Host
Windows
Threat Detection
Persistence
Version: 3 (version history)
Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.11.0
Last modified (Elastic Stack release): 7.12.0
Rule authors: Elastic
https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/7.17/shortcut-file-written-or-modified-for-persistence.html#shortcut-file-written-or-modified-for-persistence
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Rule license: Elastic License v2
file where event.type != "deletion" and user.domain != "NT
AUTHORITY" and file.path :
("C:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start
Menu\\Programs\\Startup\\*",
"C:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Start
Menu\\Programs\\StartUp\\*") and process.name : ("cmd.exe",
"powershell.exe", "wmic.exe",
"mshta.exe", "pwsh.exe",
"cscript.exe", "wscript.exe",
"regsvr32.exe", "RegAsm.exe",
"rundll32.exe", "EQNEDT32.EXE",
"WINWORD.EXE", "EXCEL.EXE",
"POWERPNT.EXE", "MSPUB.EXE",
"MSACCESS.EXE", "iexplore.exe",
"InstallUtil.exe")
Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM
Tactic:
Name: Persistence
ID: TA0003
Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003/
Technique:
Name: Boot or Logon Autostart Execution
ID: T1547
Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547/
Version 3 (7.12.0 release)
Formatting only
Version 2 (7.11.2 release)
Formatting only
Source: https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/7.17/shortcut-file-written-or-modified-for-persistence.html#shortcut-file-written-or-modified-f
or-persistence
https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/7.17/shortcut-file-written-or-modified-for-persistence.html#shortcut-file-written-or-modified-for-persistence
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