Create registry query

Create registry queries with Legacy Query Builder in Cortex AgentiX.

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From the Query Builder, you can investigate connections between registry activity, processes, and endpoints.

Some examples of registry queries include:

• Modified registry keys on specific endpoints.
• Registry keys related to process activity on specific endpoints.

How to build a registry query

1. From Cortex AgentiX, select Investigation & Response → Search → Query Builder.
2. Select REGISTRY.
3. Enter the search criteria for registry events.

   • Registry action: Select one or more actions: Key Create, Key Delete, Key Rename, Value Set, or Value Delete.
   • Registry attributes: Define additional registry attributes.

     By default, Cortex AgentiX returns events that match the specified attributes. To exclude a value, change = to =!. Available attributes include:

     • KEY NAME: Registry key name.

       Important

       Enter an actual registry key name, not a symbolic link. Otherwise, the query returns no results.

       Use HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ControlSet001 instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet.

       Use HKEY_USERS\<SID> instead of HKEY_CURRENT_USER. Replace <SID> with a user SID or *.
     • DATA: Registry key data value.
     • KEY PREVIOUS NAME: Registry key name before modification.
     • VALUE NAME: Registry value name.

     To add an exception, select + beside the value and enter it.
4. Optional: Limit the scope to a specific source.

   Select + beside the value. Then specify one or more source attributes.

   Use a pipe (|) to separate values. Use an asterisk (*) to match any characters.

   • NAME: Parent process name.
   • PATH: Parent process path.
   • CMD: Process command line, including arguments, up to 128 characters.
   • MD5: Process MD5 hash.
   • SHA256: Process SHA256 hash.
   • USER NAME: User who executed the process.
   • SIGNATURE: Parent process signing status.
   • SIGNER: Entity that signed the parent process certificate.
   • PID: Parent process ID.
   • Run search for process, Causality, and OS actors: Applies the criteria to initiating processes. Clear this option to configure different attributes.
5. Optional: Limit the scope to an endpoint or its attributes.

   Use a pipe (|) to separate values. Use an asterisk (*) to match any characters.

   • HOST: HOST NAME, HOST IP address, HOST OS, HOST MAC ADDRESS, or INSTALLATION TYPE.
   • INSTALLATION TYPE: Cortex XDR agent or Data Collector.
   • PROCESS: NAME, PATH, CMD, MD5, SHA256, USER NAME, SIGNATURE, or PID.
6. Specify the event time period.

   Select Last 24H, Last 7D, Last 1M, or Custom.
7. Choose when to run the query.

   Select the calendar icon to schedule it. Select Run to run it immediately. View results in the Query Center.

   You can leave the page while the query runs. You receive a notification when it completes. You can also Cancel the query or run a new query.
8. Review the results. See Review XQL query results.