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Registry Enumeration via WMI Stdregprov

Detects the usage of wmic.exe to enumerate or read Windows registry via the WMI StdRegProv class read methods (EnumKey, EnumValues, GetStringValue, etc.). While registry reads are common, attackers may use this technique to perform reconnaissance and discover sensitive configuration values, credentials, or installed software. The use of WMI as an alternative to standard tools like reg.exe can indicate an attempt to evade detection focused on traditional registry query commands.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1047 T1012

executiondiscovery

Detection Query

selection_img:
  - Image|endswith: \wmic.exe
  - OriginalFileName: wmic.exe
selection_cli:
  CommandLine|contains|all:
    - stdregprov
    - call
  CommandLine|contains:
    - CheckAccess
    - EnumKey
    - EnumValues
    - GetBinaryValue
    - GetDWORDValue
    - GetExpandedStringValue
    - GetMultiStringValue
    - GetQWORDValue
    - GetSecurityDescriptor
    - GetStringValue
condition: all of selection_*

Author

Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)

Created

2025-07-30

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.executionattack.t1047attack.discoveryattack.t1012

Raw Content

title: Registry Enumeration via WMI Stdregprov
id: a0e417e2-2fa1-40da-b6d2-e094cd5e1191
related:
    - id: c453ab7a-1f5c-4716-a3b4-dea8135fb43a # Registry Manipulation via WMI Stdregprov
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the usage of wmic.exe to enumerate or read Windows registry via the WMI StdRegProv class read methods (EnumKey, EnumValues, GetStringValue, etc.).
    While registry reads are common, attackers may use this technique to perform reconnaissance and discover sensitive configuration values, credentials, or installed software.
    The use of WMI as an alternative to standard tools like reg.exe can indicate an attempt to evade detection focused on traditional registry query commands.
references:
    - https://trustedsec.com/blog/command-line-underdog-wmic-in-action
    - https://trustedsec.com/blog/wmi-for-script-kiddies
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/desktop/regprov/stdregprov
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-07-30
modified: 2026-06-19
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1047
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1012
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:   # Example command simulated:  WMIC  /NameSpace:\\root\default Class StdRegProv Call EnumKey hDefKey=&H80000002 sSubKeyName="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"
        - Image|endswith: '\wmic.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'wmic.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'stdregprov'
            - 'call'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'CheckAccess'
            - 'EnumKey'
            - 'EnumValues'
            - 'GetBinaryValue'
            - 'GetDWORDValue'
            - 'GetExpandedStringValue'
            - 'GetMultiStringValue'
            - 'GetQWORDValue'
            - 'GetSecurityDescriptor'
            - 'GetStringValue'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administrative activity
level: medium