Query Registry using Built-in Tools

Elastic Stack Serverless Security

This rule identifies the execution of commands that can be used to query the Windows Registry. Adversaries may query the registry to gain situational awareness about the host, like installed security software, programs and settings.

Rule type: new_terms

Rule indices:

logs-endpoint.events.process-*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 12h

Searches indices from: now-24h (https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/common-options.html#date-math[Date Math format], see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References: None

Tags:

Domain: Endpoint
OS: Windows
Use Case: Threat Detection
Tactic: Discovery
Rule Type: BBR
Data Source: Elastic Defend

Version: 106

Rule authors:

Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

		host.os.type:windows and event.category:process and event.type:start and
  (
    (process.name.caseless:"reg.exe" and process.args:"query") or
    (process.name.caseless:("powershell.exe" or "powershell_ise.exe" or "pwsh.exe") and
     process.args:(
       ("get-childitem" or "Get-ChildItem" or "gci" or "dir" or "ls" or
        "get-item" or "Get-Item" or "gi" or
        "get-itemproperty" or "Get-ItemProperty" or "gp") and
       ("hkcu" or "HKCU" or "hkey_current_user" or "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" or
        "hkey_local_machine" or "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" or
        "hklm" or "HKLM" or registry\:\:*)
      )
    )
  ) and
  not process.command_line : (
    "C:\\Windows\\system32\\reg.exe  query hklm\\software\\microsoft\\windows\\softwareinventorylogging /v collectionstate /reg:64" or
    "reg  query \"HKLM\\Software\\WOW6432Node\\Npcap\" /ve  "
  )

	

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

Tactic:
- Name: Discovery
- ID: TA0007
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0007/
Technique:
- Name: Query Registry
- ID: T1012
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1012/