diff --git a/volatility/framework/interfaces/configuration.py b/volatility/framework/interfaces/configuration.py
index 2496cb797..867cbaf9d 100644
--- a/volatility/framework/interfaces/configuration.py
+++ b/volatility/framework/interfaces/configuration.py
@@ -76,6 +76,104 @@ class ConfigurationSchemaNode(validity.ValidityRoutines, metaclass = ABCMeta):
         """
 
 
+class HierarchicalDict(collections.Mapping):
+    def __init__(self, separator, initial_dict = None):
+        if not (isinstance(separator, str) and len(separator) == 1):
+            raise TypeError("Separator must be a one character string")
+        self._separator = separator
+        self._data = {}
+        self._subdict = {}
+        if isinstance(initial_dict, dict):
+            for k, v in initial_dict.items():
+                self[k] = v
+
+    @property
+    def separator(self):
+        return self._separator
+
+    def _key_head(self, key):
+        """Returns the first division of a key based on the dict separator,
+           or the full key if the separator is not present
+        """
+        if self.separator in key:
+            return key[:key.index(self.separator)]
+        else:
+            return key
+
+    def _key_tail(self, key):
+        """Returns all but the first division of a key based on the dict separator,
+           or None if the separator is not in the key
+        """
+        if self.separator in key:
+            return key[key.index(self.separator) + 1:]
+        return None
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        """Returns an iterator object that supports the iterator protocol"""
+        return self
+
+    def __next__(self):
+        """Yields the next element in the iterator"""
+        for key in self._data:
+            yield key
+        for subdict in self._subdict:
+            for key in subdict:
+                yield key
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        """Gets an item, traversing down the trees to get to the final value"""
+        try:
+            if self.separator in key:
+                subdict = self._subdict[self._key_head(key)]
+                return subdict[self._key_tail(key)]
+            else:
+                return self._data[key]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise KeyError(key)
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        """Sets an item or creates a subdict and sets the item within that"""
+        if self.separator in key:
+            subdict = self._subdict.get(self._key_head(key), HierarchicalDict(self.separator))
+            subdict[self._key_tail(key)] = value
+            self._subdict[self._key_head(key)] = subdict
+        else:
+            self._data[key] = value
+
+    def __delitem__(self, key):
+        """Deletes an item from the hierarchical dict"""
+        try:
+            if self.separator in key:
+                subdict = self._subdict[self._key_head(key)]
+                del subdict[self._key_tail(key)]
+                if not subdict:
+                    del self._subdict[self._key_head(key)]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise KeyError(key)
+
+    def __contains__(self, key):
+        """Determines whether the key is present in the hierarchy"""
+        if self.separator in key:
+            try:
+                subdict = self._subdict[self._key_head(key)]
+                return self._key_tail(key) in subdict
+            except KeyError:
+                return False
+        else:
+            return key in self._data
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        """Returns the length of all items"""
+        return len(self._data) + sum([len(subdict) for subdict in self._subdict])
+
+    def branch(self, key):
+        """Returns the HierarchicalDict housed under the key"""
+        if self.separator in key:
+            return self._subdict[self._key_head(key)].branch(self._key_tail(key))
+        else:
+            return self._subdict[key]
+
+
 class Configurable(object):
     """Class to allow objects to have requirements and populate the context config tree"""