Dump LSASS via procdump

name: Dump LSASS via procdump
id: 3742ebfe-64c2-11eb-ae93-0242ac130002
version: 18
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: |
    The following analytic detects the use of procdump.exe to dump the LSASS
    process, specifically looking for the -mm and -ma command-line arguments. It leverages
    data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process names,
    command-line executions, and parent processes. This activity is significant because
    dumping LSASS can expose sensitive credentials, posing a severe security risk. If
    confirmed malicious, an attacker could obtain credentials, escalate privileges,
    and move laterally within the network, leading to potential data breaches and further
    compromise of the environment.
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 1
    - Windows Event Log Security 4688
    - CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
search: |
    | tstats `security_content_summariesonly`
      count min(_time) as firstTime
            max(_time) as lastTime

    from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where

    (
      Processes.process_name IN (
        "procdump.exe",
        "procdump64.exe",
        "procdump64a.exe"
      )
      OR
      Processes.original_file_name=procdump
    )
    Processes.process IN (*-ma*, *-mm*, "*-mp*", */ma*, */mm*, "*/mp*")
    Processes.process IN (* ls*, "* keyiso*", "* samss*")

    by Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name Processes.parent_process
       Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id
       Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path Processes.process Processes.process_exec
       Processes.process_guid Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level
       Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product

    | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `dump_lsass_via_procdump_filter`
how_to_implement: |
    The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection
    and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related
    telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search,
    you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process.
    Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must
    be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to
    the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint`
    data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field
    names and speed up the data modeling process.
known_false_positives: No false positives have been identified at this time.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/001/
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procdump
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1003.001/T1003.001.md#atomic-test-2---dump-lsassexe-memory-using-procdump
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2022/08/08/bumblebee-roasts-its-way-to-domain-admin/
    - https://x.com/wietze/status/1958302556033065292?s=12
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$user$" and "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  user = "$user$" dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$user$" and "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$user$", "$dest$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: An instance of $parent_process_name$ spawning $process_name$ was identified attempting to dump lsass.exe via the command $process$ on endpoint $dest$ by user $user$.
    risk_objects:
        - field: user
          type: user
          score: 50
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
    threat_objects:
        - field: parent_process_name
          type: parent_process_name
        - field: process_name
          type: process_name
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - CISA AA22-257A
        - HAFNIUM Group
        - Compromised Windows Host
        - Credential Dumping
        - Seashell Blizzard
        - Storm-2460 CLFS Zero Day Exploitation
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1003.001
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1003.001/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1003.001/atomic_red_team/crowdstrike_falcon.log
          source: crowdstrike
          sourcetype: crowdstrike:events:sensor