process: read the IIS application pool from the w3wp command line (#2638)

Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Signed-off-by: Jan-Otto Kröpke <mail@jkroepke.de>

docs/collector.process.md

@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ metrics.
 
 ### `--collector.process.iis`
 
-Enables IIS process name queries. IIS process names are combined with their app pool name to form the `process` label.
+Appends the IIS application pool name to the process name of IIS worker processes (`w3wp`) to form the `process` label.
+See [IIS worker processes](#iis-worker-processes).
 
 Disabled by default, and can be enabled with `--collector.process.iis`. NOTE: Just plain parameter without `true`.
 
@@ -63,11 +64,21 @@ To specify multiple names, use the pipe `|` character:
 ```
 This will match all processes named `firefox`, `FIREFOX` or `chrome` .
 
-## IIS Worker processes
+## IIS worker processes
 
-The process collector also queries the `root\\WebAdministration` WMI namespace to check for running IIS workers. If it successfully retrieves a list from this namespace, it will append the name of the worker's application pool to the corresponding process. include/exclude matching occurs before this name is appended, so you don't have to take this name in consideration when writing your expression.
+With `--collector.process.iis`, the collector appends the application pool name to the name of each IIS worker process (`w3wp`).
+Include and exclude matching happens before the name is appended, so your expressions don't need to account for it.
 
-Note that this specific feature **only works** if the [IIS Management Scripts and Tools](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/iis/manage/scripting/managing-sites-with-the-iis-wmi-provider) are installed. If they are not installed then all worker processes return as just `w3wp`.
+The collector reads the application pool from the `-ap` argument of the worker process command line.
+The Windows Process Activation Service (WAS) starts every worker process with this argument.
+Reading the command line needs Windows Server 2012 R2 or later, and access to the worker process.
+The exporter running as `LocalSystem` has that access.
+
+If the command line can't be read or has no `-ap` argument, the collector falls back to the `WorkerProcess` class in the `root\WebAdministration` WMI namespace.
+That namespace needs the optional [IIS Management Scripts and Tools](https://learn.microsoft.com/iis/manage/scripting/managing-sites-with-the-iis-wmi-provider) feature (`Web-Scripting-Tools`).
+The collector doesn't query WMI while every command line has an application pool.
+
+A worker process whose application pool isn't known from either source keeps the name `w3wp`.
 
 ### Example
 

internal/collector/process/AGENTS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# process collector
+
+IIS application pool names (`--collector.process.iis`) come from two sources.
+
+- Primary: the `-ap "<pool>"` argument of each `w3wp` command line, read with
+  `NtQueryInformationProcess(ProcessCommandLineInformation)`. It needs only
+  `PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION` and Windows 8.1 or Server 2012 R2.
+- Fallback: `WorkerProcess` in `root\WebAdministration`, used only when it
+  answered during `Build` and a command line can't be read or has no `-ap`.
+  It needs the optional IIS Management Scripts and Tools feature
+  (`Web-Scripting-Tools`), and asks WAS through RSCA on every query.
+- `splitCommandLine` follows `CommandLineToArgvW`. `FuzzSplitCommandLine`
+  compares it with `windows.DecomposeCommandLine`; run it after parser changes
+  with `go test -run '^$' -fuzz FuzzSplitCommandLine ./internal/collector/process/`.
+- Without IIS, `TestCollectorWorkerProcessCommandLine` starts a suspended copy
+  of the test binary named `w3wp.exe` to check the published label. The IIS
+  tests compare against WMI when available and against the
+  `IIS APPPOOL\<pool>` process owner.
+- Don't create or change IIS application pools on a development machine to
+  test edge cases; use suspended processes with crafted command lines.

internal/collector/process/apppool.go

@@ -0,0 +1,276 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+// Copyright The Prometheus Authors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+//go:build windows
+
+package process
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode/utf16"
+	"unsafe"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+// workerProcessName is the perflib instance name of IIS worker processes (w3wp.exe).
+const workerProcessName = "w3wp"
+
+// errNoAppPoolArgument reports a w3wp command line without a non-empty -ap argument.
+var errNoAppPoolArgument = errors.New("command line has no -ap argument")
+
+// isWorkerProcess reports whether the perflib process name (without instance suffix) is an IIS worker process.
+func isWorkerProcess(name string) bool {
+	return strings.EqualFold(name, workerProcessName)
+}
+
+// workerProcessAppPool returns the application pool of the IIS worker process pid.
+//
+// The Windows Process Activation Service (WAS) starts every worker process as
+// `w3wp.exe -ap "<pool>" ...`. The pool name is read from the command line of
+// the process. It opens the process with PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION only.
+func workerProcessAppPool(pid uint32) (string, error) {
+	cmdLine, err := queryProcessCommandLine(pid)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	pool, ok := appPoolFromCommandLine(cmdLine)
+	if !ok {
+		return "", errNoAppPoolArgument
+	}
+
+	return pool, nil
+}
+
+// queryProcessCommandLine returns the command line of process pid.
+//
+// It uses NtQueryInformationProcess(ProcessCommandLineInformation), which is
+// available since Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2. Earlier versions
+// return STATUS_INVALID_INFO_CLASS. Unlike reading the PEB, it needs only
+// PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION, not PROCESS_VM_READ.
+func queryProcessCommandLine(pid uint32) (string, error) {
+	hProcess, err := windows.OpenProcess(windows.PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION, false, pid)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("OpenProcess: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	defer func() {
+		_ = windows.CloseHandle(hProcess)
+	}()
+
+	return processCommandLine(hProcess)
+}
+
+// unicodeStringHeader mirrors UNICODE_STRING. Buffer is kept as an address
+// because it points into the buffer returned by the kernel.
+type unicodeStringHeader struct {
+	Length        uint16
+	MaximumLength uint16
+	Buffer        uintptr
+}
+
+func processCommandLine(hProcess windows.Handle) (string, error) {
+	// UNICODE_STRING header plus a typical w3wp command line.
+	size := uint32(1024)
+
+	var err error
+
+	for range 4 {
+		// []uint64 keeps the UNICODE_STRING header pointer-aligned.
+		buf := make([]uint64, (size+7)/8)
+		bufSize := uint32(len(buf) * 8)
+		retLen := uint32(0)
+
+		err = windows.NtQueryInformationProcess(hProcess, windows.ProcessCommandLineInformation, unsafe.Pointer(&buf[0]), bufSize, &retLen)
+		if err == nil {
+			return decodeUnicodeString(buf)
+		}
+
+		if !errors.Is(err, windows.STATUS_INFO_LENGTH_MISMATCH) &&
+			!errors.Is(err, windows.STATUS_BUFFER_TOO_SMALL) &&
+			!errors.Is(err, windows.STATUS_BUFFER_OVERFLOW) {
+			break
+		}
+
+		if retLen <= bufSize {
+			break
+		}
+
+		size = retLen
+	}
+
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("NtQueryInformationProcess(ProcessCommandLineInformation): %w", err)
+}
+
+// decodeUnicodeString decodes the UNICODE_STRING that the kernel placed at the
+// start of buf. Its Buffer must point into buf.
+func decodeUnicodeString(buf []uint64) (string, error) {
+	base := unsafe.Pointer(&buf[0])
+	header := (*unicodeStringHeader)(base)
+
+	if header.Length == 0 {
+		return "", nil
+	}
+
+	bufSize := uintptr(len(buf)) * 8
+	offset := header.Buffer - uintptr(base)
+
+	if header.Buffer < uintptr(base) || offset < unsafe.Sizeof(*header) || offset > bufSize ||
+		uintptr(header.Length) > bufSize-offset || header.Length%2 != 0 {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("UNICODE_STRING with length %d at offset %d does not fit the %d byte buffer", header.Length, offset, bufSize)
+	}
+
+	data := unsafe.Slice((*uint16)(unsafe.Add(base, offset)), header.Length/2)
+
+	return string(utf16.Decode(data)), nil
+}
+
+// appPoolFromCommandLine returns the value of the first -ap argument of a w3wp
+// command line. Arguments are split with the CommandLineToArgvW rules.
+//
+// Application pool names can't contain '"' or '\', so the quoting WAS applies
+// is unambiguous for every valid pool name.
+func appPoolFromCommandLine(cmdLine string) (string, bool) {
+	args := splitCommandLine(cmdLine)
+
+	// args[0] is the program name.
+	for i := 1; i < len(args)-1; i++ {
+		if strings.EqualFold(args[i], "-ap") {
+			return args[i+1], args[i+1] != ""
+		}
+	}
+
+	return "", false
+}
+
+func isCommandLineSpace(c byte) bool {
+	return c == ' ' || c == '\t'
+}
+
+// splitCommandLine splits a command line like CommandLineToArgvW does.
+//
+// The program name ends at the next space or control character, which is
+// consumed, or, if it starts with a double quote, at the next double quote;
+// backslashes are literal in it. In the other arguments:
+//   - spaces and tabs outside double quotes separate arguments,
+//   - 2n backslashes followed by a double quote produce n backslashes, and the
+//     double quote starts or ends a quoted part,
+//   - 2n+1 backslashes followed by a double quote produce n backslashes and a
+//     literal double quote,
+//   - backslashes not followed by a double quote are literal,
+//   - inside a quoted part, every third consecutive double quote is literal.
+//
+// The rules only treat ASCII bytes specially, so the input is processed as
+// UTF-8 bytes without decoding runes.
+func splitCommandLine(cmdLine string) []string {
+	if cmdLine == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	var (
+		args []string
+		i    int
+	)
+
+	if cmdLine[0] == '"' {
+		end := strings.IndexByte(cmdLine[1:], '"')
+		if end < 0 {
+			return []string{cmdLine[1:]}
+		}
+
+		args = append(args, cmdLine[1:end+1])
+		i = end + 2
+	} else {
+		// Any control character or space ends an unquoted program name, and is consumed.
+		for i < len(cmdLine) && cmdLine[i] > ' ' {
+			i++
+		}
+
+		args = append(args, cmdLine[:i])
+		i++
+	}
+
+	for i < len(cmdLine) && isCommandLineSpace(cmdLine[i]) {
+		i++
+	}
+
+	var (
+		arg         []byte
+		inArg       bool
+		quotes      int
+		backslashes int
+	)
+
+	for i < len(cmdLine) {
+		c := cmdLine[i]
+
+		switch {
+		case isCommandLineSpace(c) && quotes == 0:
+			args = append(args, string(arg))
+			arg = arg[:0]
+			inArg = false
+			backslashes = 0
+
+			for i < len(cmdLine) && isCommandLineSpace(cmdLine[i]) {
+				i++
+			}
+
+			continue
+		case c == '\\':
+			arg = append(arg, c)
+			backslashes++
+		case c == '"':
+			if backslashes%2 == 0 {
+				// 2n backslashes and a quote: n backslashes, the quote toggles quoting.
+				arg = arg[:len(arg)-backslashes/2]
+				quotes++
+			} else {
+				// 2n+1 backslashes and a quote: n backslashes and a literal quote.
+				arg = append(arg[:len(arg)-backslashes/2-1], '"')
+			}
+
+			backslashes = 0
+
+			for i+1 < len(cmdLine) && cmdLine[i+1] == '"' {
+				i++
+				quotes++
+
+				if quotes == 3 {
+					arg = append(arg, '"')
+					quotes = 0
+				}
+			}
+
+			if quotes == 2 {
+				quotes = 0
+			}
+		default:
+			arg = append(arg, c)
+			backslashes = 0
+		}
+
+		inArg = true
+		i++
+	}
+
+	if inArg {
+		args = append(args, string(arg))
+	}
+
+	return args
+}

internal/collector/process/apppool_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,416 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+// Copyright The Prometheus Authors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+//go:build windows
+
+package process
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"os"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+	"unsafe"
+
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/internal/mi"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/internal/types"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+// A command line as WAS starts IIS 10 worker processes.
+const wasCommandLine = `c:\windows\system32\inetsrv\w3wp.exe -ap "DefaultAppPool" -v "v4.0" -l "webengine4.dll" -a \\.\pipe\iisipm5f5e2b1c-8d6a-4b2e-9a0c-3d1b2f4e6a7c -h "C:\inetpub\temp\apppools\DefaultAppPool\DefaultAppPool.config" -w "" -m 0 -t 20 -ta 0`
+
+//nolint:gochecknoglobals
+var commandLineTests = []struct {
+	name    string
+	cmdLine string
+	args    []string
+}{
+	{"empty", ``, nil},
+	{"program only", `w3wp.exe`, []string{`w3wp.exe`}},
+	{"leading space", `  a b`, []string{``, `a`, `b`}},
+	{"whitespace only", "  \t ", []string{``}},
+	{"trailing space", `a b  `, []string{`a`, `b`}},
+	{"tabs", "a\tb\t\tc", []string{`a`, `b`, `c`}},
+	{"quoted program", `"C:\Program Files\w3wp.exe" -ap x`, []string{`C:\Program Files\w3wp.exe`, `-ap`, `x`}},
+	{"quoted program backslash", `"C:\dir\" x`, []string{`C:\dir\`, `x`}},
+	{"quoted program unterminated", `"C:\dir x`, []string{`C:\dir x`}},
+	{"quoted program followed by text", `"a"b c`, []string{`a`, `b`, `c`}},
+	{"program backslash quote", `a\"b c`, []string{`a\"b`, `c`}},
+	{"empty quoted argument", `a "" b`, []string{`a`, ``, `b`}},
+	{"trailing empty quoted argument", `a ""`, []string{`a`, ``}},
+	{"quoted spaces", `a "b c" d`, []string{`a`, `b c`, `d`}},
+	{"embedded quotes", `a b"c d"e`, []string{`a`, `bc de`}},
+	{"unterminated quote", `a "b c`, []string{`a`, `b c`}},
+	{"escaped quote", `a b\"c`, []string{`a`, `b"c`}},
+	{"escaped backslash before quote", `a "b\\" c`, []string{`a`, `b\`, `c`}},
+	{"three backslashes before quote", `a b\\\"c`, []string{`a`, `b\"c`}},
+	{"backslashes without quote", `a \\server\share\ b`, []string{`a`, `\\server\share\`, `b`}},
+	{"double quote in quoted part", `a "b""c" d`, []string{`a`, `b"c d`}},
+	{"three quotes in quoted part", `a "b"""c d`, []string{`a`, `b"c d`}},
+	{"control character ends program", "a\vb c", []string{`a`, `b`, `c`}},
+	{"control character after program", "a \vb", []string{`a`, "\vb"}},
+	{"control character after quoted program", "\"a\"\vb", []string{`a`, "\vb"}},
+	{"control character in argument", "a b\vc\nd", []string{`a`, "b\vc\nd"}},
+	{"unicode spaces", "a b c　d", []string{"a b", "c　d"}},
+	{"three quotes", `a """b c`, []string{`a`, `"b`, `c`}},
+	{"unicode", `a "Café Пул ✓ Ωμέγα" b`, []string{`a`, `Café Пул ✓ Ωμέγα`, `b`}},
+	{"was command line", wasCommandLine, []string{
+		`c:\windows\system32\inetsrv\w3wp.exe`, `-ap`, `DefaultAppPool`, `-v`, `v4.0`, `-l`, `webengine4.dll`,
+		`-a`, `\\.\pipe\iisipm5f5e2b1c-8d6a-4b2e-9a0c-3d1b2f4e6a7c`, `-h`, `C:\inetpub\temp\apppools\DefaultAppPool\DefaultAppPool.config`,
+		`-w`, ``, `-m`, `0`, `-t`, `20`, `-ta`, `0`,
+	}},
+}
+
+func TestSplitCommandLine(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, tc := range commandLineTests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			require.Equal(t, tc.args, splitCommandLine(tc.cmdLine))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// splitCommandLine must split like CommandLineToArgvW, which is the reference implementation.
+func TestSplitCommandLineMatchesCommandLineToArgvW(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, tc := range commandLineTests {
+		if tc.cmdLine == "" {
+			// CommandLineToArgvW returns the path of the current executable for an empty command line.
+			continue
+		}
+
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			requireCommandLineToArgvW(t, tc.cmdLine)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAppPoolFromCommandLine(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name    string
+		cmdLine string
+		pool    string
+		ok      bool
+	}{
+		{"was command line", wasCommandLine, "DefaultAppPool", true},
+		{"spaces", `w3wp.exe -ap "Classic .NET AppPool" -v "v2.0"`, "Classic .NET AppPool", true},
+		{"unicode", `w3wp.exe -ap "Café Пул ✓ Ωμέγα 🚀" -v "v4.0"`, "Café Пул ✓ Ωμέγα 🚀", true},
+		{"unquoted", `w3wp.exe -ap DefaultAppPool`, "DefaultAppPool", true},
+		{"tab separated", "w3wp.exe\t-ap\t\"Pool\"", "Pool", true},
+		{"upper case flag", `w3wp.exe -AP "Pool"`, "Pool", true},
+		{"not first argument", `w3wp.exe -debug -ap "Pool" -v "v4.0"`, "Pool", true},
+		{"first of duplicates", `w3wp.exe -ap "First" -ap "Second"`, "First", true},
+		{"quoted program with spaces", `"C:\Program Files\w3wp.exe" -ap "Pool"`, "Pool", true},
+		{"embedded quotes", `w3wp.exe -ap Default"App Pool"`, "DefaultApp Pool", true},
+		{"escaped quote", `w3wp.exe -ap "a\"b"`, `a"b`, true},
+		{"trailing backslash", `w3wp.exe -ap "a\\"`, `a\`, true},
+		{"literal backslash", `w3wp.exe -ap "a\b"`, `a\b`, true},
+		{"missing", `w3wp.exe -v "v4.0"`, "", false},
+		{"no arguments", `c:\windows\system32\inetsrv\w3wp.exe`, "", false},
+		{"empty command line", ``, "", false},
+		{"missing value", `w3wp.exe -v "v4.0" -ap`, "", false},
+		{"empty value", `w3wp.exe -ap "" -v "v4.0"`, "", false},
+		{"flag inside quotes", `w3wp.exe "-ap Pool"`, "", false},
+		{"flag prefix", `w3wp.exe -apx "Pool"`, "", false},
+		{"slash flag", `w3wp.exe /ap "Pool"`, "", false},
+		{"program named -ap", `-ap Pool`, "", false},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+
+			pool, ok := appPoolFromCommandLine(tc.cmdLine)
+			require.Equal(t, tc.ok, ok)
+			require.Equal(t, tc.pool, pool)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func FuzzSplitCommandLine(f *testing.F) {
+	for _, tc := range commandLineTests {
+		f.Add(tc.cmdLine)
+	}
+
+	f.Add(`w3wp.exe -ap "a\\\"b" -ap`)
+	f.Add(`"" "" ""`)
+	f.Add(`a """"""" b`)
+	f.Add("a\v\r\nb\u00a0c\u3000d")
+
+	f.Fuzz(func(t *testing.T, cmdLine string) {
+		// CommandLineToArgvW takes NUL-terminated UTF-16 and returns the executable path for an empty command line.
+		if cmdLine == "" || strings.ContainsRune(cmdLine, 0) || !utf8.ValidString(cmdLine) {
+			t.Skip()
+		}
+
+		args := requireCommandLineToArgvW(t, cmdLine)
+
+		var (
+			want   string
+			wantOK bool
+		)
+
+		for i := 1; i < len(args)-1; i++ {
+			if strings.EqualFold(args[i], "-ap") {
+				want, wantOK = args[i+1], args[i+1] != ""
+
+				break
+			}
+		}
+
+		pool, ok := appPoolFromCommandLine(cmdLine)
+		require.Equal(t, wantOK, ok)
+		require.Equal(t, want, pool)
+	})
+}
+
+func requireCommandLineToArgvW(t *testing.T, cmdLine string) []string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	want, err := windows.DecomposeCommandLine(cmdLine)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	got := splitCommandLine(cmdLine)
+	if len(want) == 0 {
+		require.Empty(t, got, "command line %q", cmdLine)
+	} else {
+		require.Equal(t, want, got, "command line %q", cmdLine)
+	}
+
+	return got
+}
+
+// The command line is read from a process that never ran, with an argument
+// list as WAS passes it, so no IIS installation is needed.
+func TestWorkerProcessAppPool(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	executable, err := os.Executable()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	const pool = "Café Пул ✓ Ωμέγα 🚀"
+
+	cmdLine := `"` + executable + `" -ap "` + pool + `" -v "v4.0" -a \\.\pipe\iisipm -w "" -m 0`
+
+	appName, err := windows.UTF16PtrFromString(executable)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	cmdLineUTF16, err := windows.UTF16FromString(cmdLine)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	startupInfo := windows.StartupInfo{Cb: uint32(unsafe.Sizeof(windows.StartupInfo{}))}
+
+	var processInfo windows.ProcessInformation
+
+	// CREATE_SUSPENDED: the process parameters exist, but the test binary never runs.
+	require.NoError(t, windows.CreateProcess(appName, &cmdLineUTF16[0], nil, nil, false,
+		windows.CREATE_SUSPENDED|windows.CREATE_NO_WINDOW, nil, nil, &startupInfo, &processInfo))
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		require.NoError(t, windows.TerminateProcess(processInfo.Process, 1))
+		require.NoError(t, windows.CloseHandle(processInfo.Thread))
+		require.NoError(t, windows.CloseHandle(processInfo.Process))
+	})
+
+	pid := processInfo.ProcessId
+
+	got, err := queryProcessCommandLine(pid)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, cmdLine, got)
+
+	gotPool, err := workerProcessAppPool(pid)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, pool, gotPool)
+}
+
+func TestWorkerProcessAppPoolWithoutArgument(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	_, err := workerProcessAppPool(windows.GetCurrentProcessId())
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, errNoAppPoolArgument)
+}
+
+func TestQueryProcessCommandLine(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	got, err := queryProcessCommandLine(windows.GetCurrentProcessId())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, windows.UTF16PtrToString(windows.GetCommandLine()), got)
+}
+
+func TestResolveAppPools(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	logger := slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler)
+
+	commandLines := func(results map[uint32]error) func(uint32) (string, error) {
+		return func(pid uint32) (string, error) {
+			if err := results[pid]; err != nil {
+				return "", err
+			}
+
+			return fmt.Sprintf("native-%d", pid), nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	wmiResult := []WorkerProcess{
+		{ProcessId: 4, AppPoolName: "wmi-4"},
+		{ProcessId: 8, AppPoolName: "wmi-8"},
+		{ProcessId: 12, AppPoolName: ""},
+	}
+
+	t.Run("command line only", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		pools, err := resolveAppPools(logger, []uint32{4, 8}, commandLines(nil), func() ([]WorkerProcess, error) {
+			t.Fatal("WMI must not be queried when every command line has the pool")
+
+			return nil, nil
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, map[uint32]string{4: "native-4", 8: "native-8"}, pools)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("WMI fallback", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		calls := 0
+		pools, err := resolveAppPools(logger, []uint32{4, 8, 12, 16}, commandLines(map[uint32]error{
+			8:  windows.ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED,
+			12: errNoAppPoolArgument,
+			16: windows.STATUS_INVALID_INFO_CLASS,
+		}), func() ([]WorkerProcess, error) {
+			calls++
+
+			return wmiResult, nil
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, 1, calls)
+		// An empty WMI pool name and a process WMI doesn't know get no label.
+		require.Equal(t, map[uint32]string{4: "native-4", 8: "wmi-8"}, pools)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("exited process", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		pools, err := resolveAppPools(logger, []uint32{4, 8}, commandLines(map[uint32]error{
+			8: fmt.Errorf("OpenProcess: %w", windows.ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER),
+		}), func() ([]WorkerProcess, error) {
+			t.Fatal("WMI must not be queried for exited processes")
+
+			return nil, nil
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, map[uint32]string{4: "native-4"}, pools)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("without WMI", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		pools, err := resolveAppPools(logger, []uint32{4, 8}, commandLines(map[uint32]error{
+			8: windows.ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED,
+		}), nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, map[uint32]string{4: "native-4"}, pools)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("WMI error", func(t *testing.T) {
+		t.Parallel()
+
+		wmiErr := windows.ERROR_TIMEOUT
+		pools, err := resolveAppPools(logger, []uint32{4, 8}, commandLines(map[uint32]error{
+			8: windows.ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED,
+		}), func() ([]WorkerProcess, error) {
+			return nil, wmiErr
+		})
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, wmiErr)
+		require.Equal(t, map[uint32]string{4: "native-4"}, pools)
+	})
+}
+
+// Grafana Alloy builds and closes collectors repeatedly. Without
+// root\WebAdministration, Build must succeed and use the command line only.
+func TestBuildCloseWorkerProcess(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	miApp, err := mi.ApplicationInitialize()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() { require.NoError(t, miApp.Close()) })
+
+	miSession, err := miApp.NewSession(nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() { require.NoError(t, miSession.Close()) })
+
+	c := New(&Config{
+		ProcessInclude:      regexp.MustCompile(`^(?:w3wp)$`),
+		ProcessExclude:      types.RegExpEmpty,
+		EnableWorkerProcess: true,
+		CounterVersion:      1,
+	})
+
+	logger := slog.New(slog.DiscardHandler)
+
+	for _, session := range []*mi.Session{nil, miSession, nil} {
+		require.NoError(t, c.Build(logger, session))
+
+		if session == nil {
+			require.Nil(t, c.miSession)
+		}
+
+		require.NoError(t, c.Close())
+		require.NoError(t, c.Close())
+		require.Nil(t, c.miSession)
+	}
+}
+
+// The command line source costs one OpenProcess and one NtQueryInformationProcess per worker process.
+func BenchmarkWorkerProcessAppPool(b *testing.B) {
+	pid := windows.GetCurrentProcessId()
+
+	for b.Loop() {
+		cmdLine, err := queryProcessCommandLine(pid)
+		require.NoError(b, err)
+
+		appPoolFromCommandLine(cmdLine)
+	}
+}
+
+func BenchmarkAppPoolFromCommandLine(b *testing.B) {
+	for b.Loop() {
+		appPoolFromCommandLine(wasCommandLine)
+	}
+}
+
+// Errors must be the native Windows error, so callers can tell exited processes from denied access.
+func TestQueryProcessCommandLineMissingProcess(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	// Process IDs are multiples of four and far below this value.
+	_, err := queryProcessCommandLine(0xFFFFFFFC)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, windows.ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER)
+}

internal/collector/process/export_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+// Copyright The Prometheus Authors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+//go:build windows
+
+package process
+
+// WorkerProcessAppPool exposes the command line source to the IIS tests, which
+// must live in process_test because testutils imports the collector registry.
+//
+//nolint:gochecknoglobals
+var WorkerProcessAppPool = workerProcessAppPool

internal/collector/process/process.go

@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ type Collector struct {
 
 	logger *slog.Logger
 
+	// miSession is set when root\WebAdministration answered during Build. It's
+	// the fallback for worker processes whose command line can't be read.
 	miSession                 *mi.Session
 	workerProcessMIQueryQuery mi.Query
 
@@ -133,7 +135,7 @@ func NewWithFlags(app *kingpin.Application) *Collector {
 
 	app.Flag(
 		"collector.process.iis",
-		"Enable IIS collectWorker process name queries. May cause the collector to leak memory.",
+		"Append the IIS application pool name to the process name of IIS worker processes (w3wp).",
 	).Default(strconv.FormatBool(c.config.EnableWorkerProcess)).BoolVar(&c.config.EnableWorkerProcess)
 
 	app.Flag(
@@ -183,6 +185,9 @@ func (c *Collector) Close() error {
 		c.workerWG.Wait()
 	}
 
+	// The session belongs to the caller of Build.
+	c.miSession = nil
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -329,31 +334,50 @@ func (c *Collector) Build(logger *slog.Logger, miSession *mi.Session) error {
 		nil,
 	)
 
+	c.miSession = nil
+
 	if c.config.EnableWorkerProcess {
-		if miSession == nil {
-			return errors.New("miSession is nil")
-		}
-
-		miQuery, err := mi.NewQuery("SELECT AppPoolName, ProcessId FROM WorkerProcess")
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to create WMI query: %w", err)
-		}
-
-		c.workerProcessMIQueryQuery = miQuery
-		c.miSession = miSession
-
-		var workerProcesses []WorkerProcess
-
-		if err = c.miSession.Query(&workerProcesses, mi.NamespaceRootWebAdministration, c.workerProcessMIQueryQuery, 0); err != nil {
-			c.config.EnableWorkerProcess = false
-
-			return fmt.Errorf("WMI query for collector.process.iis failed: %w", err)
+		if err := c.buildWorkerProcessWMI(miSession); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 	}
 
 	return nil
 }
 
+// buildWorkerProcessWMI enables the root\WebAdministration fallback for application pool names
+// if the IIS WMI provider is installed. Without it, only the w3wp command line is used.
+func (c *Collector) buildWorkerProcessWMI(miSession *mi.Session) error {
+	if miSession == nil {
+		c.logger.LogAttrs(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug,
+			"No MI session, reading IIS application pool names from the w3wp command line only",
+		)
+
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	miQuery, err := mi.NewQuery("SELECT AppPoolName, ProcessId FROM WorkerProcess")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create WMI query: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var workerProcesses []WorkerProcess
+
+	if err = miSession.Query(&workerProcesses, mi.NamespaceRootWebAdministration, miQuery, 0); err != nil {
+		c.logger.LogAttrs(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug,
+			`root\WebAdministration isn't available, reading IIS application pool names from the w3wp command line only`,
+			slog.Any("err", err),
+		)
+
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	c.workerProcessMIQueryQuery = miQuery
+	c.miSession = miSession
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (c *Collector) Collect(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric, maxScrapeDuration time.Duration) error {
 	return c.collect(ch, maxScrapeDuration)
 }

internal/collector/process/process_iis_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,351 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+//
+// Copyright The Prometheus Authors
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+//go:build windows
+
+package process_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"regexp"
+	"slices"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+	"unsafe"
+
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/internal/collector/process"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/internal/mi"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/internal/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/internal/utils/testutils"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+// appPoolIdentityPrefix is the domain of ApplicationPoolIdentity virtual accounts,
+// whose names are the application pool names.
+const appPoolIdentityPrefix = `IIS APPPOOL\`
+
+// The application pool read from each w3wp command line must match
+// WorkerProcess.AppPoolName and the ApplicationPoolIdentity of the process.
+func TestWorkerProcessAppPoolIIS(t *testing.T) {
+	pids := requireWorkerProcesses(t)
+
+	appPools := make(map[uint32]string, len(pids))
+
+	for _, pid := range pids {
+		appPool, err := process.WorkerProcessAppPool(pid)
+		if errors.Is(err, windows.ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER) {
+			// The worker process exited, for example after its idle timeout.
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if errors.Is(err, windows.ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED) && !iisRequired() {
+			t.Skipf("worker process %d: %v; run the test elevated", pid, err)
+		}
+
+		require.NoError(t, err, "worker process %d", pid)
+		require.NotEmpty(t, appPool)
+
+		appPools[pid] = appPool
+
+		if owner := processOwner(t, pid); strings.HasPrefix(owner, appPoolIdentityPrefix) {
+			require.Equal(t, strings.TrimPrefix(owner, appPoolIdentityPrefix), appPool, "worker process %d", pid)
+		}
+	}
+
+	workerProcesses, err := queryWorkerProcesses(t)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Logf(`root\WebAdministration isn't available, skipping the WMI comparison: %v`, err)
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	for _, wp := range workerProcesses {
+		if appPool, ok := appPools[uint32(wp.ProcessId)]; ok {
+			require.Equal(t, wp.AppPoolName, appPool, "worker process %d", wp.ProcessId)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// The collector must publish the application pool in the process label.
+func TestCollectorIISAppPool(t *testing.T) {
+	requireWorkerProcesses(t)
+
+	families := testutils.TestCollector(t, process.New, &process.Config{
+		ProcessInclude:      regexp.MustCompile(`^(?:w3wp)$`),
+		ProcessExclude:      types.RegExpEmpty,
+		EnableWorkerProcess: true,
+		CounterVersion:      1,
+	})
+
+	require.Contains(t, families, "windows_process_info")
+
+	var labeled int
+
+	for _, metric := range families["windows_process_info"].GetMetric() {
+		labels := make(map[string]string)
+		for _, label := range metric.GetLabel() {
+			labels[label.GetName()] = label.GetValue()
+		}
+
+		owner := labels["owner"]
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(owner, appPoolIdentityPrefix) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		require.Equal(t, "w3wp_"+strings.TrimPrefix(owner, appPoolIdentityPrefix), labels["process"], "process_id %s", labels["process_id"])
+
+		labeled++
+	}
+
+	if iisRequired() {
+		require.Positive(t, labeled, "no worker process runs as an ApplicationPoolIdentity")
+	}
+}
+
+// A suspended copy of the test binary named w3wp.exe, started with a WAS
+// command line, must get the pool in its process label without IIS.
+func TestCollectorWorkerProcessCommandLine(t *testing.T) {
+	executable, err := os.Executable()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	content, err := os.ReadFile(executable)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	workerProcess := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "w3wp.exe")
+	//nolint:gosec // The destination is a fixed filename in a test-owned temporary directory.
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(workerProcess, content, 0o600))
+
+	const appPool = "Test Pool Ωμέγα 🚀"
+
+	pid := startSuspended(t, workerProcess, `"`+workerProcess+`" -ap "`+appPool+`" -v "v4.0" -w "" -m 0`)
+
+	families := testutils.TestCollector(t, process.New, &process.Config{
+		ProcessInclude:      regexp.MustCompile(`^(?:w3wp)$`),
+		ProcessExclude:      types.RegExpEmpty,
+		EnableWorkerProcess: true,
+		CounterVersion:      1,
+	})
+
+	if _, ok := families["windows_process_info"]; !ok {
+		t.Skip("the Process counter set has no w3wp instance")
+	}
+
+	for _, metric := range families["windows_process_info"].GetMetric() {
+		labels := make(map[string]string)
+		for _, label := range metric.GetLabel() {
+			labels[label.GetName()] = label.GetValue()
+		}
+
+		if labels["process_id"] == strconv.FormatUint(uint64(pid), 10) {
+			require.Equal(t, "w3wp_"+appPool, labels["process"])
+
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.Fatalf("windows_process_info has no series for process %d", pid)
+}
+
+// startSuspended starts a process that never runs and returns its ID.
+func startSuspended(t *testing.T, path, cmdLine string) uint32 {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	appName, err := windows.UTF16PtrFromString(path)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	cmdLineUTF16, err := windows.UTF16FromString(cmdLine)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	startupInfo := windows.StartupInfo{Cb: uint32(unsafe.Sizeof(windows.StartupInfo{}))}
+
+	var processInfo windows.ProcessInformation
+
+	require.NoError(t, windows.CreateProcess(appName, &cmdLineUTF16[0], nil, nil, false,
+		windows.CREATE_SUSPENDED|windows.CREATE_NO_WINDOW, nil, nil, &startupInfo, &processInfo))
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		require.NoError(t, windows.TerminateProcess(processInfo.Process, 1))
+		_, _ = windows.WaitForSingleObject(processInfo.Process, windows.INFINITE)
+		require.NoError(t, windows.CloseHandle(processInfo.Thread))
+		require.NoError(t, windows.CloseHandle(processInfo.Process))
+	})
+
+	return processInfo.ProcessId
+}
+
+// iisRequired reports whether CI provisioned IIS, so a missing worker process is a failure.
+func iisRequired() bool {
+	return slices.Contains(strings.Split(os.Getenv("WINDOWS_EXPORTER_TEST_COLLECTORS"), ","), "iis")
+}
+
+// requireWorkerProcesses returns the IIS worker processes. If W3SVC runs
+// without one, it requests the local default site to start one.
+func requireWorkerProcesses(t *testing.T) []uint32 {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	if pids := workerProcessIDs(t); len(pids) > 0 {
+		return pids
+	}
+
+	if !serviceRunning(t, "W3SVC") {
+		if iisRequired() {
+			t.Fatal("W3SVC isn't running")
+		}
+
+		t.Skip("IIS isn't running")
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(t.Context(), 30*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodGet, "http://127.0.0.1/", nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err == nil {
+		_ = resp.Body.Close()
+	} else {
+		t.Logf("request to start a worker process failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	pids := workerProcessIDs(t)
+	if len(pids) == 0 {
+		if iisRequired() {
+			t.Fatal("no IIS worker process is running")
+		}
+
+		t.Skip("no IIS worker process is running")
+	}
+
+	return pids
+}
+
+func workerProcessIDs(t *testing.T) []uint32 {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	snapshot, err := windows.CreateToolhelp32Snapshot(windows.TH32CS_SNAPPROCESS, 0)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	defer func() { _ = windows.CloseHandle(snapshot) }()
+
+	var (
+		pids  []uint32
+		entry = windows.ProcessEntry32{Size: uint32(unsafe.Sizeof(windows.ProcessEntry32{}))}
+	)
+
+	for err = windows.Process32First(snapshot, &entry); err == nil; err = windows.Process32Next(snapshot, &entry) {
+		if strings.EqualFold(windows.UTF16ToString(entry.ExeFile[:]), "w3wp.exe") {
+			pids = append(pids, entry.ProcessID)
+		}
+	}
+
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, windows.ERROR_NO_MORE_FILES)
+
+	return pids
+}
+
+func serviceRunning(t *testing.T, name string) bool {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	scm, err := windows.OpenSCManager(nil, nil, windows.SC_MANAGER_CONNECT)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	defer func() { _ = windows.CloseServiceHandle(scm) }()
+
+	serviceName, err := windows.UTF16PtrFromString(name)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	h, err := windows.OpenService(scm, serviceName, windows.SERVICE_QUERY_STATUS)
+	if errors.Is(err, windows.ERROR_SERVICE_DOES_NOT_EXIST) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	defer func() { _ = windows.CloseServiceHandle(h) }()
+
+	var status windows.SERVICE_STATUS
+
+	require.NoError(t, windows.QueryServiceStatus(h, &status))
+
+	return status.CurrentState == windows.SERVICE_RUNNING
+}
+
+// processOwner returns the DOMAIN\user owner of pid, or "" if it can't be read.
+func processOwner(t *testing.T, pid uint32) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	hProcess, err := windows.OpenProcess(windows.PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION, false, pid)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	defer func() { _ = windows.CloseHandle(hProcess) }()
+
+	var token windows.Token
+	if err := windows.OpenProcessToken(hProcess, windows.TOKEN_QUERY, &token); err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	defer func() { _ = token.Close() }()
+
+	user, err := token.GetTokenUser()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	account, domain, _, err := user.User.Sid.LookupAccount("")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Logf("worker process %d: LookupAccountSid: %v", pid, err)
+
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	return domain + `\` + account
+}
+
+func queryWorkerProcesses(t *testing.T) ([]process.WorkerProcess, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	miApp, err := mi.ApplicationInitialize()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() { require.NoError(t, miApp.Close()) })
+
+	miSession, err := miApp.NewSession(nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() { require.NoError(t, miSession.Close()) })
+
+	query, err := mi.NewQuery("SELECT AppPoolName, ProcessId FROM WorkerProcess")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	var workerProcesses []process.WorkerProcess
+
+	if err := miSession.Query(&workerProcesses, mi.NamespaceRootWebAdministration, query, 0); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	for _, wp := range workerProcesses {
+		t.Logf("WorkerProcess %s: %q", strconv.FormatUint(wp.ProcessId, 10), wp.AppPoolName)
+	}
+
+	return workerProcesses, nil
+}

internal/collector/process/process_worker.go

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package process
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
 	"runtime/debug"
@@ -29,14 +30,15 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/internal/mi"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
 )
 
 type processWorkerRequest struct {
 	ch                       chan<- prometheus.Metric
 	name                     string
+	appPoolName              string
 	performanceCounterValues perfDataCounterValues
 	waitGroup                *sync.WaitGroup
-	workerProcesses          []WorkerProcess
 }
 
 func (c *Collector) collect(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric, maxScrapeDuration time.Duration) error {
@@ -45,16 +47,9 @@ func (c *Collector) collect(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric, maxScrapeDuration time.
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to collect metrics: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	err = nil
+	requests := make([]processWorkerRequest, 0, len(c.perfDataObject))
 
-	var workerProcesses []WorkerProcess
-	if c.config.EnableWorkerProcess {
-		if err = c.miSession.Query(&workerProcesses, mi.NamespaceRootWebAdministration, c.workerProcessMIQueryQuery, maxScrapeDuration); err != nil {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("WMI query for collector.process.iis failed: %w", err)
-		}
-	}
-
-	wg := &sync.WaitGroup{}
+	var workerProcessIDs []uint32
 
 	for _, process := range c.perfDataObject {
 		// Duplicate processes are suffixed #, and an index number. Remove those.
@@ -77,15 +72,32 @@ func (c *Collector) collect(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric, maxScrapeDuration time.
 			continue
 		}
 
-		wg.Add(1)
+		if c.config.EnableWorkerProcess && isWorkerProcess(name) {
+			workerProcessIDs = append(workerProcessIDs, uint32(process.ProcessID))
+		}
 
-		c.workerCh <- processWorkerRequest{
+		requests = append(requests, processWorkerRequest{
 			ch:                       ch,
 			name:                     name,
 			performanceCounterValues: process,
-			workerProcesses:          workerProcesses,
-			waitGroup:                wg,
-		}
+		})
+	}
+
+	var appPools map[uint32]string
+
+	if len(workerProcessIDs) > 0 {
+		appPools, err = resolveAppPools(c.logger, workerProcessIDs, workerProcessAppPool, c.workerProcessWMIQuery(maxScrapeDuration))
+	}
+
+	wg := &sync.WaitGroup{}
+
+	for _, req := range requests {
+		req.appPoolName = appPools[uint32(req.performanceCounterValues.ProcessID)]
+		req.waitGroup = wg
+
+		wg.Add(1)
+
+		c.workerCh <- req
 	}
 
 	wg.Wait()
@@ -93,6 +105,80 @@ func (c *Collector) collect(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric, maxScrapeDuration time.
 	return err
 }
 
+// workerProcessWMIQuery returns the root\WebAdministration query, or nil if it was unavailable during Build.
+func (c *Collector) workerProcessWMIQuery(maxScrapeDuration time.Duration) func() ([]WorkerProcess, error) {
+	miSession, miQuery := c.miSession, c.workerProcessMIQueryQuery
+	if miSession == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return func() ([]WorkerProcess, error) {
+		var workerProcesses []WorkerProcess
+
+		err := miSession.Query(&workerProcesses, mi.NamespaceRootWebAdministration, miQuery, maxScrapeDuration)
+
+		return workerProcesses, err
+	}
+}
+
+// resolveAppPools maps IIS worker process IDs to application pool names.
+//
+// The command line of the worker process is the primary source: it needs no
+// optional feature and no WMI round trip. WMI is queried at most once, for the
+// worker processes whose command line couldn't be read or has no -ap argument,
+// and only if queryWMI isn't nil. Unresolved processes have no entry.
+func resolveAppPools(
+	logger *slog.Logger,
+	pids []uint32,
+	readCommandLine func(pid uint32) (string, error),
+	queryWMI func() ([]WorkerProcess, error),
+) (map[uint32]string, error) {
+	appPools := make(map[uint32]string, len(pids))
+
+	var unresolved []uint32
+
+	for _, pid := range pids {
+		appPool, err := readCommandLine(pid)
+		if err == nil {
+			appPools[pid] = appPool
+
+			continue
+		}
+
+		logger.LogAttrs(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug, "Failed to read the IIS application pool from the worker process command line",
+			slog.Uint64("pid", uint64(pid)),
+			slog.Any("err", err),
+		)
+
+		// OpenProcess fails with ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER for processes that exited after the
+		// performance counter snapshot. WAS no longer reports them either.
+		if !errors.Is(err, windows.ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER) {
+			unresolved = append(unresolved, pid)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(unresolved) == 0 || queryWMI == nil {
+		return appPools, nil
+	}
+
+	workerProcesses, err := queryWMI()
+	if err != nil {
+		return appPools, fmt.Errorf("WMI query for collector.process.iis failed: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, pid := range unresolved {
+		for _, wp := range workerProcesses {
+			if wp.ProcessId == uint64(pid) && wp.AppPoolName != "" {
+				appPools[pid] = wp.AppPoolName
+
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	return appPools, nil
+}
+
 func (c *Collector) collectWorker(requests <-chan processWorkerRequest) {
 	defer c.workerWG.Done()
 
@@ -115,14 +201,8 @@ func (c *Collector) collectWorker(requests <-chan processWorkerRequest) {
 			pid := uint64(data.ProcessID)
 			parentPID := strconv.FormatUint(uint64(data.CreatingProcessID), 10)
 
-			if c.config.EnableWorkerProcess {
-				for _, wp := range req.workerProcesses {
-					if wp.ProcessId == pid {
-						name = strings.Join([]string{name, wp.AppPoolName}, "_")
-
-						break
-					}
-				}
+			if req.appPoolName != "" {
+				name = name + "_" + req.appPoolName
 			}
 
 			cmdLine, processOwner, processGroupID, err := c.getProcessInformation(uint32(pid))