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Access To Windows Credential History File By Uncommon Applications

Detects file access requests to the Windows Credential History File by an uncommon application. This can be a sign of credential stealing. Example case would be usage of mimikatz "dpapi::credhist" function

MITRE ATT&CK

T1555.004

credential-access

Detection Query

selection:
  FileName|endswith: \Microsoft\Protect\CREDHIST
filter_main_system_folders:
  Image|startswith:
    - C:\Program Files\
    - C:\Program Files (x86)\
    - C:\Windows\system32\
    - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
filter_main_explorer:
  Image: C:\Windows\explorer.exe
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2022-10-17

Data Sources

windowsfile_access

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.credential-accessattack.t1555.004

Raw Content

title: Access To Windows Credential History File By Uncommon Applications
id: 7a2a22ea-a203-4cd3-9abf-20eb1c5c6cd2
status: test
description: |
    Detects file access requests to the Windows Credential History File by an uncommon application.
    This can be a sign of credential stealing. Example case would be usage of mimikatz "dpapi::credhist" function
references:
    - https://tools.thehacker.recipes/mimikatz/modules/dpapi/credhist
    - https://www.passcape.com/windows_password_recovery_dpapi_credhist
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-10-17
modified: 2024-07-29
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1555.004
logsource:
    category: file_access
    product: windows
    definition: 'Requirements: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-File ETW provider'
detection:
    selection:
        FileName|endswith: '\Microsoft\Protect\CREDHIST'
    filter_main_system_folders:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files\'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
            - 'C:\Windows\system32\'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
    filter_main_explorer:
        Image: 'C:\Windows\explorer.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
# Increase level after false positives filters are good enough
level: medium