T1012: Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt)

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK · Tactic: Discovery · Total Cataloged Families: 14 · Observed Samples: 32 · Primary Threat Categories: Ransomware · Trojan · Advanced Threat

Operational Executive Summary

T1012 (Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt)) is classified under the Discovery tactic within the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Techniques adversaries employ to observe and orient themselves within an enterprise environment, profiling network shares, Active Directory domains, and local system configurations. In telemetry gathered across enterprise endpoints and the EMBER 2018 benchmark, this technique was weaponized across 14 distinct malware families, totaling over 32 validated samples.

Technical Anatomy & Adversary Tradecraft

Adversaries leverage Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt) to accomplish operational objectives while minimizing anomalous forensic footprints. When executing Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt), malicious binaries commonly interact directly with low-level Windows APIs, kernel mode drivers, or native scripting interfaces to bypass traditional file-integrity monitors and static antivirus signatures.

In modern multi-stage campaigns, T1012 is frequently observed functioning as an intermediate bridge: initial access payloads (such as spearphishing loaders or exploit macros) execute Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt) to establish in-memory execution or persistence before staging secondary ransomware or data-exfiltration implants.

Authoritative MITRE ATT&CK Reference: View official technique documentation, sub-techniques, and adversary groups at https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1012/.

Detection Engineering & Threat Hunting

Detecting Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt) requires telemetry correlation across endpoint detection and response (EDR) agents, Sysmon event streams, and security information event management (SIEM) pipelines:

Process Creation & Lineage: Monitor parent-child process anomalies where unexpected parent binaries (e.g., Office executables, web browsers, or script hosts) spawn command shells or native Windows utilities.
API Hooking & Behavioral Telemetry: EDR platforms should flag rapid calls to memory allocation, process injection, or registry manipulation APIs originating from unbacked executable memory regions.
Network Anomaly Correlation: Cross-reference endpoint execution timestamps with external network socket establishment to identify anomalous beaconing or covert data staging.

SOC Containment & Hardening Guidance

To mitigate risks associated with T1012 (Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt)) across production infrastructure, security teams should implement the following defensive controls:

Attack Surface Reduction (ASR): Enforce strict application control policies (WDAC or AppLocker) to restrict execution to signed and verified corporate binaries.
Least Privilege & Credential Hygiene: Restrict local administrative privileges to prevent adversaries from tampering with defensive agents or escalating privileges.
Network Microsegmentation: Restrict lateral communication across endpoint VLANs to prevent wormable payloads from utilizing Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt) across adjacent network segments.

→ Incident Response Guidance: Read our Active Incident Response Playbook

Cataloged Malware Families Utilizing T1012 (14 Families)

The following malware families in the SystemHelpDesk catalog have been verified utilizing T1012 (Query Registry (Identifying mounted drives and network shares to encrypt)):

14 families

Family	Category	Sample Count	Technical Summary
dial	Ransomware	`10`	Dialer:Win32/Dial (or generic Dialer heuristics) represents a historical, highly prevalent class of malware from the dial-up internet era (late 90s to early...
induc	Advanced Threat	`9`	Virus:Win32/Induc is a highly unique, fascinating, and historic file infector from 2009 that introduced a terrifying new vector for supply chain attacks. Instea...
qhosts	Trojan	`2`	Trojan:Win32/Qhosts is a classic, highly specific trojan whose primary malicious activity is modifying the Windows `hosts` file (`%SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\...
bansomqare	Ransomware	`1`	Bansomqare (classified in antivirus detection telemetry under designations including Ransom:Win32/Bansomqare, Ransom.Win32.Bansomqare, and Win32/Bansomqare) is ...
bitcovar	Ransomware	`1`	Bitcovar (classified in antivirus detection telemetry under designations including Ransom:Win32/Bitcovar, Ransom.Win32.Bitcovar, and Win32/Bitcovar) is a crypto...
cryptear	Ransomware	`1`	<h3>Executive Summary</h3> Cryptear is a variant of destructive Ransomware designed to infiltrate corporate networks, rapidly encrypt critical file systems, and...
cryptojoker	Ransomware	`1`	<h3>Executive Summary</h3> CryptoJoker is a highly destructive strain of file-encrypting Ransomware. It is designed to quickly infiltrate a system, encrypt all ...
cryptomix	Ransomware	`1`	Ransomware:Win32/Cryptomix is a well-known, historically significant ransomware family. Its primary objective is to encrypt the victim's files using strong cryp...
cryptowire	Ransomware	`1`	<h3>Executive Summary</h3> Cryptowire is a variant of destructive Ransomware designed to infiltrate corporate networks, rapidly encrypt critical file systems, a...
cryptredol	Ransomware	`1`	Ransomware:Win32/Cryptredol is a destructive malware strain with a dual-impact payload: it functions primarily as ransomware, encrypting victim data (`T1486`), ...
findkeyxp	Trojan	`1`	Trojan:Win32/Findkeyxp is a specialized InfoStealer whose primary objective is to locate, extract, and exfiltrate software license keys and product activation c...
kryptyk	Ransomware	`1`	Ransomware:Win32/Kryptyk is a classification indicating the presence of a ransomware payload or a precursor trojan specifically designed to facilitate a ransomw...
ransomheur	Ransomware	`1`	<h3>Executive Summary</h3> "RansomHeur" (short for Ransomware Heuristic) is a highly critical, generic detection signature utilized by advanced Endpoint Protect...
saencrypt	Ransomware	`1`	<h3>Executive Summary</h3> SAEncrypt is a variant of destructive Ransomware designed to infiltrate corporate networks, exfiltrate sensitive data (in double-exto...