Getting Data In

Monitoring specific keys in the registry

heathramos
Path Finder

I had the default registry monitoring turned on for our desktops for a day but it used way too much of our license so I had to disable it.

I am interested in monitoring a few keys but I am unclear on how to fill out the hive portion within the inputs.conf file.

Example of the keys I might monitor:

  1. REGISTRY: Watch for the creation or modification of new registry keys and values a. 4657 – Accesses: WriteData (or AddFile) i. HKLM, HKCU & HKU – Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
  2. Run, RunOnce ii. HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
  3. Watch AppInit_Dlls iii. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\EMDMgmt
  4. Watch Connection time of USB Devices iv. HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
  5. Watch for NEW Services v. HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR
  6. Watch for NEW USB devices
0 Karma

xavierashe
Contributor

Here are a few examples that I run. For HKCU, you have to use this format:

[WinRegMon://hkcu_run1]
disabled = 0
hive = \\REGISTRY\\USER\\.*\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\.*
proc = .*
type = set|create|delete|rename
index = windows

For HKLM you use MACHINE:

[WinRegMon://hklm_run1]
disabled = 0
hive = \\REGISTRY\\MACHINE\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\Explorer\\Run\\.*
proc = .*
type = set|create|delete|rename
index = windows

You don't need to add stanzas for HKU, because your HKCU stanzas will suffice.

AaronMoorcroft
Communicator

Hi,

Can you advise how you can monitor multiple Reg Keys in the same stanza ?

Thank you

0 Karma
Get Updates on the Splunk Community!

AI for AppInspect

We’re excited to announce two new updates to AppInspect designed to save you time and make the app approval ...

App Platform's 2025 Year in Review: A Year of Innovation, Growth, and Community

As we step into 2026, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on what an extraordinary year 2025 was for the Splunk ...

Operationalizing Entity Risk Score with Enterprise Security 8.3+

Overview Enterprise Security 8.3 introduces a powerful new feature called “Entity Risk Scoring” (ERS) for ...