Download latest version from Releases:
https://github.com/hxsyn/Sysmon/releases/tag/v15.15
Sysmon (System Monitor) is a sophisticated Windows system service and device driver designed to provide detailed visibility into system activity and facilitate advanced threat detection. Operating at the kernel level, Sysmon captures high-fidelity event data that goes beyond standard Windows logging, including process creations, network connections, and file creation time changes. This granular telemetry enables IT professionals and security teams to reconstruct complex attack chains, identify anomalous behavior, and monitor persistence mechanisms in real time.
Key functionalities include logging process creation with full command-line parameters, capturing hash values for executables, monitoring driver and DLL loading, and tracking network connections with source and destination information. Sysmon integrates seamlessly with the Windows Event Log system, providing structured events that can be ingested by SIEM solutions, threat intelligence platforms, and log aggregation frameworks. Its configurable XML-based rule set allows precise control over the scope of monitoring, filtering benign activity while focusing on potentially malicious behavior.
Sysmon’s value lies in its ability to enhance endpoint visibility without introducing significant overhead, making it suitable for deployment across enterprise environments. By correlating Sysmon events with other telemetry, administrators gain actionable insights into lateral movement, command-and-control attempts, and malware execution patterns. This capability is critical for proactive threat hunting, forensic investigations, and compliance with stringent security standards. Regular updates from Microsoft and community-driven rulesets ensure that Sysmon evolves alongside emerging attack techniques, maintaining its role as an essential tool for advanced Windows system monitoring and incident response.
Sysmon provides the following capabilities:
- Records process creation events, capturing the full command line for both the current and parent processes.
- Computes and logs hashes of process image files using SHA1 (default), MD5, SHA256, or IMPHASH.
- Supports using multiple hash algorithms simultaneously.
- Includes a process GUID in process creation events, enabling correlation even when Windows reuses process IDs.
- Assigns a session GUID to each event for correlation across the same logon session.
- Logs driver and DLL loads along with their digital signatures and hashes.
- Tracks raw read access attempts to disks and volumes.
- Optionally monitors network connections, recording source processes, IP addresses, ports, hostnames, and port names.
- Detects file creation time modifications to accurately determine when files were truly created—a technique often exploited by malware to evade detection.
- Automatically reloads configuration changes made in the registry.
- Supports rule-based filtering to dynamically include or exclude specific events.
- Captures events early in the boot process, allowing visibility into actions performed by advanced kernel-mode malware.