Analytics Story: BlackMatter Ransomware

Updated Date: 2026-05-13 ID: 0da348a3-78a0-412e-ab27-2de9dd7f9fee Author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

Leverage searches that allow you to detect and investigate unusual activities that might relate to the BlackMatter ransomware, including looking for file writes associated with BlackMatter, force safe mode boot, autadminlogon account registry modification and more.

Why it matters

BlackMatter ransomware campaigns targeting healthcare and other vertical sectors, involve the use of ransomware payloads along with exfiltration of data per HHS bulletin. Malicious actors demand payment for ransome of data and threaten deletion and exposure of exfiltrated data.

Detections

Name ▲▼	Technique ▲▼	Type ▲▼
Windows Security And Backup Services Stop	Inhibit System Recovery	TTP
Add DefaultUser And Password In Registry	Credentials in Registry	Anomaly
Bcdedit Command Back To Normal Mode Boot	Inhibit System Recovery	TTP
SchCache Change By App Connect And Create ADSI Object	Domain Account	Anomaly
Auto Admin Logon Registry Entry	Credentials in Registry	TTP
Ransomware Notes bulk creation	Data Encrypted for Impact	Anomaly
Modification Of Wallpaper	Defacement	TTP
Change To Safe Mode With Network Config	Inhibit System Recovery	TTP

Data Sources

Name ▲▼	Platform ▲▼	Sourcetype ▲▼	Source ▲▼
Windows Event Log System 7036	Windows	`XmlWinEventLog`	`XmlWinEventLog:System`
Sysmon EventID 13	Windows	`XmlWinEventLog`	`XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational`
Sysmon EventID 12	Windows	`XmlWinEventLog`	`XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational`
CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2	Other	`crowdstrike:events:sensor`	`crowdstrike`
Sysmon EventID 1	Windows	`XmlWinEventLog`	`XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational`
Windows Event Log Security 4688	Windows	`XmlWinEventLog`	`XmlWinEventLog:Security`
Sysmon EventID 11	Windows	`XmlWinEventLog`	`XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational`

References

Source: GitHub | Version: 2