RegistryRights Enum

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System.Security.AccessControl

Assembly:: Microsoft.Win32.Registry.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Package:: Microsoft.Win32.Registry v5.0.0

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Specifies the access control rights that can be applied to registry objects.

This enumeration supports a bitwise combination of its member values.

public enum class RegistryRights

[System.Flags]
public enum RegistryRights

[<System.Flags>]
type RegistryRights =

Public Enum RegistryRights

Inheritance: Object

ValueType

Enum
RegistryRights

Attributes: FlagsAttribute

Fields

Name	Value	Description
QueryValues	1	The right to query the name/value pairs in a registry key.
SetValue	2	The right to create, delete, or set name/value pairs in a registry key.
CreateSubKey	4	The right to create subkeys of a registry key.
EnumerateSubKeys	8	The right to list the subkeys of a registry key.
Notify	16	The right to request notification of changes on a registry key.
CreateLink	32	Reserved for system use.
Delete	65536	The right to delete a registry key.
ReadPermissions	131072	The right to open and copy the access rules and audit rules for a registry key.
WriteKey	131078	The right to create, delete, and set the name/value pairs in a registry key, to create or delete subkeys, to request notification of changes, to enumerate its subkeys, and to read its access rules and audit rules.
ExecuteKey	131097	Same as ReadKey.
ReadKey	131097	The right to query the name/value pairs in a registry key, to request notification of changes, to enumerate its subkeys, and to read its access rules and audit rules.
ChangePermissions	262144	The right to change the access rules and audit rules associated with a registry key.
TakeOwnership	524288	The right to change the owner of a registry key.
FullControl	983103	The right to exert full control over a registry key, and to modify its access rules and audit rules.

Examples

The following code example demonstrates the use of the RegistryRights enumeration. The code creates a test key, allowing the current user ReadKey and Delete access rights but denying ChangePermissions and WriteKey rights. Subsequent attempts to manipulate the key succeed or fail depending on these permissions.

Before the key is deleted, the code pauses. You can switch to the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe) and verify that the same access rights apply when the key is accessed using the Registry Editor.

This example works best if you use RunAs from the command line to run the Registry Editor and the sample code as a local user without administrator rights. For example, if you have defined a local user named TestUser, the command runas /user:TestUser cmd opens a command window from which you can run the Registry Editor and then the example code.

using namespace System;
using namespace System::Reflection;
using namespace Microsoft::Win32;
using namespace System::Security::AccessControl;
using namespace System::Security;

int main()
{
    // Delete the example key if it exists.
    try
    {
        Registry::CurrentUser->DeleteSubKey("RegistryRightsExample");
        Console::WriteLine("Example key has been deleted.");
    }
    catch (ArgumentException^)
    {
        // ArgumentException is thrown if the key does not exist. In
        // this case, there is no reason to display a message.
    }
    catch (InvalidOperationException^ ex)
    {
        Console::WriteLine(
            "{0}Unable to delete key: it appears to have child subkeys:{0}{1}", 
            Environment::NewLine, ex);
        return 0;
    }
    catch (SecurityException^ ex)
    {
        Console::WriteLine("{0}You do not have the permissions required " +
            "to delete this key:{0}{1}", Environment::NewLine, ex);
        return 0;
    }

    String^ user = Environment::UserDomainName + "\\" + Environment::UserName;

    RegistrySecurity^ regSecurity = gcnew RegistrySecurity();

    // Allow the current user to read and delete the key.
    //
    regSecurity->AddAccessRule(gcnew RegistryAccessRule(user,
        RegistryRights::ReadKey | RegistryRights::Delete,
        InheritanceFlags::None,
        PropagationFlags::None,
        AccessControlType::Allow));

    // Prevent the current user from writing or changing the
    // permission set of the key. Note that if Delete permission
    // were not allowed in the previous access rule, denying
    // WriteKey permission would prevent the user from deleting the
    // key.
    regSecurity->AddAccessRule(gcnew RegistryAccessRule(user,
        RegistryRights::WriteKey | RegistryRights::ChangePermissions,
        InheritanceFlags::None,
        PropagationFlags::None,
        AccessControlType::Deny));

    // Create the example key with registry security.
    RegistryKey^ createdKey = nullptr;
    try
    {
        createdKey = Registry::CurrentUser->CreateSubKey(
            "RegistryRightsExample", RegistryKeyPermissionCheck::Default,
            regSecurity);
        Console::WriteLine("{0}Example key created.", Environment::NewLine);
        createdKey->SetValue("ValueName", "StringValue");
    }
    catch (SecurityException^ ex)
    {
        Console::WriteLine("{0}You do not have the permissions required " +
            "to create the example key:{0}{1}", Environment::NewLine, ex);
        return 0;
    }
    if (createdKey != nullptr)
    {
        createdKey->Close();
    }

    RegistryKey^ openedKey;

    // Open the key with read access.
    openedKey = Registry::CurrentUser->OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample",
        false);
    Console::WriteLine("{0}Retrieved value: {1}",
        Environment::NewLine, openedKey->GetValue("ValueName"));
    openedKey->Close();

    // Attempt to open the key with write access.
    try
    {
        openedKey = Registry::CurrentUser->OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample",
            true);
    }
    catch (SecurityException^ ex)
    {
        Console::WriteLine("{0}You do not have the permissions required " +
            "to write to the example key:{0}{1}", Environment::NewLine, ex);
    }
    if (openedKey != nullptr)
    {
        openedKey->Close();
    }

    // Attempt to change permissions for the key.
    try
    {
        regSecurity = gcnew RegistrySecurity();
        regSecurity->AddAccessRule(gcnew RegistryAccessRule(user,
            RegistryRights::WriteKey,
            InheritanceFlags::None,
            PropagationFlags::None,
            AccessControlType::Allow));
        openedKey = Registry::CurrentUser->OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample",
            false);
        openedKey->SetAccessControl(regSecurity);
        Console::WriteLine("{0}Example key permissions were changed.", 
            Environment::NewLine);
    }
    catch (UnauthorizedAccessException^ ex)
    {
        Console::WriteLine("{0}You are not authorized to change " +
            "permissions for the example key:{0}{1}", Environment::NewLine, ex);
    }
    if (openedKey != nullptr)
    {
        openedKey->Close();
    }

    Console::WriteLine("{0}Press Enter to delete the example key.", 
        Environment::NewLine);
    Console::ReadLine();

    try
    {
        Registry::CurrentUser->DeleteSubKey("RegistryRightsExample");
        Console::WriteLine("Example key was deleted.");
    }
    catch(SecurityException^ ex)
    {
        Console::WriteLine("{0}You do not have the permissions required to "
            + "delete the example key:{0}{1}", Environment::NewLine, ex);
    }
}

using System;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Security;
using System.Security.AccessControl;
using Microsoft.Win32;

public class Example
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Delete the example key if it exists.
        try
        {
            Registry.CurrentUser.DeleteSubKey("RegistryRightsExample");
            Console.WriteLine("Example key has been deleted.");
        }
        catch (ArgumentException)
        {
            // ArgumentException is thrown if the key does not exist. In
            // this case, there is no reason to display a message.
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Unable to delete the example key: {0}", ex);
            return;
        }

        string user = Environment.UserDomainName + "\\" + Environment.UserName;

        RegistrySecurity rs = new RegistrySecurity();

        // Allow the current user to read and delete the key.
        //
        rs.AddAccessRule(new RegistryAccessRule(user,
            RegistryRights.ReadKey | RegistryRights.Delete,
            InheritanceFlags.None,
            PropagationFlags.None,
            AccessControlType.Allow));

        // Prevent the current user from writing or changing the
        // permission set of the key. Note that if Delete permission
        // were not allowed in the previous access rule, denying
        // WriteKey permission would prevent the user from deleting the
        // key.
        rs.AddAccessRule(new RegistryAccessRule(user,
            RegistryRights.WriteKey | RegistryRights.ChangePermissions,
            InheritanceFlags.None,
            PropagationFlags.None,
            AccessControlType.Deny));

        // Create the example key with registry security.
        RegistryKey rk = null;
        try
        {
            rk = Registry.CurrentUser.CreateSubKey("RegistryRightsExample",
                RegistryKeyPermissionCheck.Default, rs);
            Console.WriteLine("\r\nExample key created.");
            rk.SetValue("ValueName", "StringValue");
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("\r\nUnable to create the example key: {0}", ex);
        }
        if (rk != null) rk.Close();

        rk = Registry.CurrentUser;

        RegistryKey rk2;

        // Open the key with read access.
        rk2 = rk.OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample", false);
        Console.WriteLine("\r\nRetrieved value: {0}", rk2.GetValue("ValueName"));
        rk2.Close();

        // Attempt to open the key with write access.
        try
        {
            rk2 = rk.OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample", true);
        }
        catch (SecurityException ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("\nUnable to write to the example key." +
                " Caught SecurityException: {0}", ex.Message);
        }
        if (rk2 != null) rk2.Close();

        // Attempt to change permissions for the key.
        try
        {
            rs = new RegistrySecurity();
            rs.AddAccessRule(new RegistryAccessRule(user,
                RegistryRights.WriteKey,
                InheritanceFlags.None,
                PropagationFlags.None,
                AccessControlType.Allow));
            rk2 = rk.OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample", false);
            rk2.SetAccessControl(rs);
            Console.WriteLine("\r\nExample key permissions were changed.");
        }
        catch (UnauthorizedAccessException ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("\nUnable to change permissions for the example key." +
                " Caught UnauthorizedAccessException: {0}", ex.Message);
        }
        if (rk2 != null) rk2.Close();

        Console.WriteLine("\r\nPress Enter to delete the example key.");
        Console.ReadLine();

        try
        {
            rk.DeleteSubKey("RegistryRightsExample");
            Console.WriteLine("Example key was deleted.");
        }
        catch(Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Unable to delete the example key: {0}", ex);
        }

        rk.Close();
    }
}

/* This code example produces the following output:

Example key created.

Retrieved value: StringValue

Unable to write to the example key. Caught SecurityException: Requested registry access is not allowed.

Unable to change permissions for the example key. Caught UnauthorizedAccessException: Cannot write to the registry key.

Press Enter to delete the example key.

Example key was deleted.
 */

Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.Security
Imports System.Security.AccessControl
Imports Microsoft.Win32

Public Class Example
    Public Shared Sub Main()
        ' Delete the example key if it exists.
        Try
            Registry.CurrentUser.DeleteSubKey("RegistryRightsExample")
            Console.WriteLine("Example key has been deleted.")
        Catch ex As ArgumentException
            ' ArgumentException is thrown if the key does not exist. In
            ' this case, there is no reason to display a message.
        Catch ex As Exception
            Console.WriteLine("Unable to delete the example key: {0}", ex)
            Return
        End Try

        Dim user As String = Environment.UserDomainName & "\" & Environment.UserName

        Dim rs As New RegistrySecurity()

        ' Allow the current user to read and delete the key.
        '
        rs.AddAccessRule(new RegistryAccessRule(user, _
            RegistryRights.ReadKey Or RegistryRights.Delete, _
            InheritanceFlags.None, _
            PropagationFlags.None, _
            AccessControlType.Allow))

        ' Prevent the current user from writing or changing the
        ' permission set of the key. Note that if Delete permission
        ' were not allowed in the previous access rule, denying
        ' WriteKey permission would prevent the user from deleting the 
        ' key.
        rs.AddAccessRule(new RegistryAccessRule(user, _
            RegistryRights.WriteKey Or RegistryRights.ChangePermissions, _
            InheritanceFlags.None, _
            PropagationFlags.None, _
            AccessControlType.Deny))

        ' Create the example key with registry security.
        Dim rk As RegistryKey = Nothing
        Try
            rk = Registry.CurrentUser.CreateSubKey("RegistryRightsExample", _
                RegistryKeyPermissionCheck.Default, rs)
            Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Example key created.")
            rk.SetValue("ValueName", "StringValue")
        Catch ex As Exception
            Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Unable to create the example key: {0}", ex)
        End Try

        If rk IsNot Nothing Then rk.Close()

        rk = Registry.CurrentUser

        Dim rk2 As RegistryKey
        
        ' Open the key with read access.
        rk2 = rk.OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample", False)
        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Retrieved value: {0}", rk2.GetValue("ValueName"))
        rk2.Close()

        ' Attempt to open the key with write access.
        Try
            rk2 = rk.OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample", True)
        Catch ex As SecurityException
            Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Unable to write to the example key." _
                & " Caught SecurityException: {0}", ex.Message)
        End Try
        If rk2 IsNot Nothing Then rk2.Close()

        ' Attempt to change permissions for the key.
        Try
            rs = New RegistrySecurity()
            rs.AddAccessRule(new RegistryAccessRule(user, _
                RegistryRights.WriteKey, _
                InheritanceFlags.None, _
                PropagationFlags.None, _
                AccessControlType.Allow))
            rk2 = rk.OpenSubKey("RegistryRightsExample", False)
            rk2.SetAccessControl(rs)
            Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Example key permissions were changed.")
        Catch ex As UnauthorizedAccessException
            Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Unable to change permissions for the example key." _
                & " Caught UnauthorizedAccessException: {0}", ex.Message)
        End Try
        If rk2 IsNot Nothing Then rk2.Close()

        Console.WriteLine(vbCrLf & "Press Enter to delete the example key.")
        Console.ReadLine()

        Try
            rk.DeleteSubKey("RegistryRightsExample")
            Console.WriteLine("Example key was deleted.")
        Catch ex As Exception
            Console.WriteLine("Unable to delete the example key: {0}", ex)
        End Try

        rk.Close()
    End Sub
End Class

' This code produces the following output:
'
'Example key created.
'
'Retrieved value: StringValue
'
'Unable to write to the example key. Caught SecurityException: Requested registry access is not allowed.
'
'Unable to change permissions for the example key. Caught UnauthorizedAccessException: Cannot write to the registry key.
'
'Press Enter to delete the example key.
'
'Example key was deleted.

Remarks

Use the RegistryRights enumeration to specify registry access rights when you create RegistrySecurity objects. To apply access rights to a registry key, first add RegistryAccessRule objects to a RegistrySecurity object, then attach the RegistrySecurity object to the key using the RegistryKey.SetAccessControl method, or an appropriate overload of the RegistryKey.CreateSubKey method.

Applies to

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