> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/tampering-with-internet-explorer-protected-mode-configuration.md).
# Tampering with Internet Explorer Protected Mode configuration
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day |
| Required Data | XDR Agent |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Defense Evasion (TA0005) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools (T1562.001) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
When an add-on is running inside Protected Mode attempts to launch a broker process (or any other program), the ElevationPolicy Registry key is checked to determine how the process should be launched. Internet Explorer will run a broker process with higher rights that can use the current user's permissions to take actions that would otherwise be prohibited when rendering content inside the Protected Mode sandbox. .
### Attacker's Goals
* When an add-on is running inside Protected Mode attempts to launch a broker process, this key is checked to determine how the process should be launched.
* Attackers may change this value to make the process launch with higher privileges.
### Investigative actions
* Check whether the injecting process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.
### Variations
Tampering with Internet Explorer Protected Mode default configuration
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Defense Evasion (TA0005) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools (T1562.001) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
When an add-on is running inside Protected Mode attempts to launch a broker process (or any other program), the ElevationPolicy Registry key is checked to determine how the process should be launched. Internet Explorer will run a broker process with higher rights that can use the current user's permissions to take actions that would otherwise be prohibited when rendering content inside the Protected Mode sandbox. .
**Attacker's Goals**
* When an add-on is running inside Protected Mode attempts to launch a broker process, this key is checked to determine how the process should be launched.
* Attackers may change this value to make the process launch with higher privileges.
**Investigative actions**
* Check whether the injecting process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.
Tampering with Internet Explorer Protected Mode specific app configuration
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Defense Evasion (TA0005) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools (T1562.001) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
When an add-on is running inside Protected Mode attempts to launch a broker process (or any other program), the ElevationPolicy Registry key is checked to determine how the process should be launched. Internet Explorer will run a broker process with higher rights that can use the current user's permissions to take actions that would otherwise be prohibited when rendering content inside the Protected Mode sandbox. .
**Attacker's Goals**
* When an add-on is running inside Protected Mode attempts to launch a broker process, this key is checked to determine how the process should be launched.
* Attackers may change this value to make the process launch with higher privileges.
**Investigative actions**
* Check whether the injecting process is benign and if this was a desired behavior as part of its normal execution flow.
---
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