# T1012 - Query Registry

## SOC Recommendation
Investigate Query Registry activity in the context of Discovery: confirm scope, affected host/identity, and whether it matches expected administrative behaviour before deciding this is benign.

## D3FEND Mappings
| D3FEND Technique | Relationship | Practical SOC Action |
|---|---|---|
| System Call Analysis | Detect | Monitor for System Call Analysis indicators relevant to this technique. |
| System Configuration Permissions | Harden | Apply System Configuration Permissions to reduce this technique's viability before an incident occurs. |
| System Call Filtering | Isolate | Apply System Call Filtering to contain the blast radius once this technique is observed. |
| Restore Database | Restore | Use Restore Database to recover affected systems or data after containment. |

## Investigation Steps
1. Review Defender for Endpoint / Defender XDR alerts and timeline for the affected host or identity.
2. Check Sentinel analytics rules and incidents correlated with this technique.
3. Review Entra ID sign-in and audit logs if the technique involves an identity or cloud resource.

## Evidence to Collect
- Host or resource affected
- Account or identity involved
- Timestamp of the activity
- Related process, file, or network artifact
- Any preceding or follow-on alerts

## Response Actions
| Action | Risk | Automation Safe | Approval Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contain the affected host or account | Medium | No | Yes |
| Collect and preserve evidence | Low | Yes | No |

## KQL
```kql
// AADJoined or Register Device Registry Keys
let aadJoinRoot = "\\REGISTRY\\MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet001\\Control\\CloudDomainJoin\\JoinInfo\\";
let aadRegisteredRoot = "\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\WorkplaceJoin";
// Transport Key Registry Key
let keyTransportKey = "\\REGISTRY\\MACHINE\\SYSTEM\\ControlSet001\\Control\\Cryptography\\Ngc\\KeyTransportKey\\";
(union isfuzzy=true
(
// Access to Object Requested
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == '4656'
| where EventData has aadJoinRoot or EventData has aadRegisteredRoot
| extend EventData = parse_xml(EventData).EventData.Data
| mv-expand bagexpansion=array EventData
| evaluate bag_unpack(EventData)
| extend Key = tostring(column_ifexists('@Name', "")), Value = column_ifexists('#text', "")
| evaluate pivot(Key, any(Value), TimeGenerated, Computer, EventID)
| where ObjectType == 'Key'
| where ObjectName startswith aadJoinRoot and SubjectLogonId != '0x3e7' //Local System
| extend ProcessId = column_ifexists("ProcessId", ""), Process = split(ProcessName, '\\', -1)[-1],Account = strcat(SubjectDomainName, "\\", SubjectUserName)
| join kind=innerunique (
    SecurityEvent
    | where EventID == '4656'
    | where EventData has keyTransportKey
    | extend EventData = parse_xml(EventData).EventData.Data
    | mv-expand bagexpansion=array EventData
    | evaluate bag_unpack(EventData)
    | extend Key = tostring(column_ifexists('@Name', "")), Value = column_ifexists('#text', "")
    | evaluate pivot(Key, any(Value), TimeGenerated, Computer, EventID)
    | extend ObjectName = column_ifexists("ObjectName", ""),ObjectType = column_ifexists("ObjectType", "")
    | where ObjectType == 'Key'
    | where ObjectName startswith keyTransportKey and SubjectLogonId != '0x3e7' //Local System
    | extend ProcessId = column_ifexists("ProcessId", ""), Process = split(ProcessName, '\\', -1)[-1],Account = strcat(SubjectDomainName, "\\", SubjectUserName)
) on $left.Computer == $right.Computer and $left.SubjectLogonId == $right.SubjectLogonId and $left.ProcessId == $right.ProcessId
| project TimeGenerated, Computer, Account, SubjectDomainName, SubjectUserName, SubjectLogonId, ObjectName, tostring(Process), ProcessName, ProcessId, EventID
),
// Accessing Object
(
SecurityEvent
| where EventID == '4663'
| where ObjectType == 'Key'
| where (ObjectName startswith aadJoinRoot or ObjectName contains aadRegisteredRoot) and SubjectLogonId != '0x3e7' //Local System
| extend Account = SubjectAccount
| join kind=innerunique (
    SecurityEvent
    | where EventID == '4663'
    | where ObjectType == 'Key'
    | where ObjectName has keyTransportKey and SubjectLogonId != '0x3e7' //Local System
    | extend Account = SubjectAccount
) on $left.Computer == $right.Computer and $left.SubjectLogonId == $right.SubjectLogonId and $left.ProcessId == $right.ProcessId
| project TimeGenerated, Computer, Account, SubjectDomainName, SubjectUserName, SubjectLogonId, ObjectName, Process, ProcessName, ProcessId, EventID
| extend HostName = tostring(split(Computer, '.', 0)[0]), DnsDomain = tostring(strcat_array(array_slice(split(Computer, '.'), 1, -1), '.'))
)
)
```

## Escalation Criteria
- Query Registry activity observed on a privileged account or critical system.
- Activity follows or precedes other suspicious behaviour in the same investigation.
- Automated triage cannot confidently rule out malicious intent.

## False Positive Considerations
- Legitimate administrative or maintenance activity matching this pattern.
- Approved security testing or red team exercise.
- Known benign software producing similar telemetry.

Generated by SOC Response Atlas by Basyrix.