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GCIH · Question #810

What would a forensic analyst extract from the following registry key? HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SRUM\Extensions

The correct answer is A. Temporarily stored system activity data. The SRUM registry extension stores historical resource usage data collected by the System Resource Usage Monitor, making it a key forensic artifact for reconstructing past system activity.

Incident Response & Cyber Kill Chain

Question

What would a forensic analyst extract from the following registry key? HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SRUM\Extensions

Options

  • ATemporarily stored system activity data
  • BFile associations for installed programs
  • CRecently searched files and directories
  • DSystem policies for web browser add-ons

How the community answered

(26 responses)
  • A
    88% (23)
  • C
    8% (2)
  • D
    4% (1)

Why each option

The SRUM registry extension stores historical resource usage data collected by the System Resource Usage Monitor, making it a key forensic artifact for reconstructing past system activity.

ATemporarily stored system activity dataCorrect

The SRUM (System Resource Usage Monitor) extensions stored under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SRUM\Extensions record per-application CPU, network, and memory usage over time. Forensic analysts extract this data to reconstruct what processes were running, how much network data they transferred, and when - even after the processes have terminated. It is a temporary rolling store, not a permanent application registry.

BFile associations for installed programs

File associations are stored under HKCR (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT) or HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes, not in the SRUM extensions path.

CRecently searched files and directories

Recently accessed files and search history are tracked in artifacts like the ShellBags, RecentDocs, or WordWheelQuery keys, not SRUM.

DSystem policies for web browser add-ons

Browser add-on and extension policies are controlled via HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies or browser-specific keys, not the SRUM path.

Concept tested: Windows SRUM forensic artifact analysis

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/test/wpt/system-resource-usage-monitor

Topics

#SRUM#registry forensics#Windows artifacts#system activity logging

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