Can Process Creation and Termination Be Monitored in C Without Using Kernel-Mode Drivers?

Efficient Process Creation/Termination Detection in C Without Kernel-Mode Driver

In the realm of Windows programming, tracking the inception and demise of Win32 processes is crucial. Traditionally, this task was accomplished through kernel-mode drivers implementing PsSetCreateProcessNotifyRoutine(). However, is there a way to achieve this without resorting to driver development?

Win32 API-Only Approach

Fortunately, there exists an alternative solution utilizing Win32 API functions. Circumventing the intensive polling method, this approach leverages system-wide callbacks and asynchronous events.

WMI as a Viable Option

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is an excellent tool for process monitoring. It provides comprehensive information on various system components, including process lifecycle events. While WMI handles process names seamlessly, it may not be suitable if tracking process termination is the prime objective.

RegisterWaitForSingleObject: A Lightweight Solution

For efficient process termination detection, the lightweight RegisterWaitForSingleObject() method offers a superior approach. This function registers a callback that is invoked once the specified process terminates. Here's a snippet demonstrating its usage:

VOID CALLBACK WaitOrTimerCallback(
    _In_ PVOID lpParameter,
    _In_ BOOLEAN TimerOrWaitFired
)
{
    MessageBox(0, L"The process has exited.", L"INFO", MB_OK);
    return;
}

DWORD dwProcessID = 1234;
HANDLE hProcHandle = OpenProcess(PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, FALSE, dwProcessID);

HANDLE hNewHandle;
RegisterWaitForSingleObject(&hNewHandle, hProcHandle, WaitOrTimerCallback, NULL, INFINITE, WT_EXECUTEONLYONCE);

This code snippet will invoke the WaitOrTimerCallback function as soon as the process with ID dwProcessID terminates.

Conclusion

While kernel-mode drivers provide robust process monitoring capabilities, they introduce complexity and overhead. For scenarios where tracking process termination is the primary goal, the RegisterWaitForSingleObject() function offers a lightweight and efficient solution leveraging Win32 API functions.

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