CHFI Mobile and Malware Forensics Practice Question
During dynamic analysis of a Windows malware sample, Process Monitor shows repeated writes to 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'. What does this behaviour indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
EC-Council often tests the distinction between persistence mechanisms (like Run keys) and other malware behaviors (like disabling security or log wiping), so the trap here is that candidates confuse the Run key's purpose with system configuration changes or defensive countermeasures.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The malware is establishing persistence to run at system startup
The registry key 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run' is a standard Windows autorun location. Malware writing to this key ensures that its executable is launched automatically every time the system boots, which is a classic persistence mechanism. Process Monitor capturing repeated writes confirms the malware is actively establishing this startup persistence.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The malware is disabling Windows Defender
Why it's wrong here
Writing to the Run registry key is not the mechanism used to disable Microsoft Defender. Cybercriminals typically disable Defender by setting policy values such as DisableAntiSpyware or DisableRealtimeMonitoring under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender, modifying the WinDefend service startup type, or terminating MsMpEng.exe. Those actions target the security service's own configuration and runtime, not a general-purpose user logon auto-start key. Therefore, a runtime write to the Run key is far more indicative of a persistence attempt than of antivirus tampering.
- ✓
The malware is establishing persistence to run at system startup
Why this is correct
The Run key is a standard Windows auto-start repository: under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, each value specifies a command line that the Winlogon process executes when a user logs on. Malware writing a new value here with its full path is a classic persistence technique, ensuring the malicious process is re-launched after a reboot or logon. Dynamic analysis often catches this write because the sample modifies the registry at runtime to survive, not just to alter a one-time setting.
- ✗
The malware is modifying network configuration
Why it's wrong here
Windows network configuration is not stored under the Run key; it resides deep in the registry under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters and its per-interface subkeys (or via netsh/ipconfig), and DNS, proxy, and routing settings live in separate locations like HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\DNSRegisteredAdapters or HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings. A write to the Run key does not touch IP addresses, default gateways, or DNS servers. Forcing a sample to call netsh or directly editing these keys would accompany network reconfiguration, not a Run key value. Thus this behavior is clearly not network modification.
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The malware is performing log wiping
Why it's wrong here
Log-wiping actions are aimed at the Event Log subsystem—deleting or overwriting files under C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs, clearing event logs via wevtutil or OpenEventLog/ClearEventLog APIs, or altering Event Log registry values such as HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventLog. The Run key has no role in log management, and a value added there does not erase or alter any security, application, or system records. Its purpose is purely to schedule a program to run at user logon, making it unrelated to forensic cleanup.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CHFI practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CHFI exam.