Threat intelligence / Technique

Boot or Logon Initialization Scripts

Adversaries may use scripts automatically executed at boot or logon initialization to establish persistence.(Citation: Mandiant APT29 Eye Spy Email Nov 22)(Citation: Anomali Rocke March 2019) Initialization scripts can be used to perform administrative functions, which may often execute other programs or send information to an internal logging server. These scripts can vary based on operating system and whether applied locally or remotely. Adversaries may use these scripts to maintain persistence on a single system. Depending on the access configuration of the logon scripts, either local credentials or an administrator account may be necessary. An adversary may also be able to escalate their privileges since some boot or logon initialization scripts run with higher privileges.

Technique

TypeTechnique

External ID—

First seen2026-08-14

Last seen2026-08-14

Confidence

—

Adversaries may use scripts automatically executed at boot or logon initialization to establish persistence.(Citation: Mandiant APT29 Eye Spy Email Nov 22)(Citation: Anomali Rocke March 2019) Initialization scripts can be used to perform administrative functions, which may often execute other programs or send information to an internal logging server. These scripts can vary based on operating system and whether applied locally or remotely. Adversaries may use these scripts to maintain persistence on a single system. Depending on the access configuration of the logon scripts, either local credentials or an administrator account may be necessary. An adversary may also be able to escalate their privileges since some boot or logon initialization scripts run with higher privileges.

16 recorded

Relationships

mapped-to

from Run Software at Logon

Technique

mitigates

from Restrict File and Directory Permissions

Mitigation

mitigates

from Restrict Registry Permissions

Mitigation

subtechnique-of

from Login Hook

Technique

subtechnique-of

from Logon Script (Windows)

Technique

subtechnique-of

from Network Logon Script

Technique

subtechnique-of

from RC Scripts

Technique

subtechnique-of

from Startup Items

Technique

uses

from APT29

Group

uses

from APT41

Group

uses

from ArcaneDoor

Campaign

uses

from Rocke

Group

uses

from RotaJakiro

Malware

uses

from SPAWNCHIMERA

Malware

uses

Group

uses

from VIRTUALPITA

Malware

3 external

References

mitre-attack

T1037

Anomali Rocke March 2019

https://www.anomali.com/blog/rocke-evolves-its-arsenal-with-a-new-malware-family-written-in-golang

Mandiant APT29 Eye Spy Email Nov 22

https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/unc3524-eye-spy-email