title: Copying Sensitive Files with Credential Data
id: e7be6119-fc37-43f0-ad4f-1f3f99be2f9f
status: test
description: Files with well-known filenames (sensitive files with credential data) copying
references:
    - https://room362.com/post/2013/2013-06-10-volume-shadow-copy-ntdsdit-domain-hashes-remotely-part-1/
    - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
    - https://dfironthemountain.wordpress.com/2018/12/06/locked-file-access-using-esentutl-exe/
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/2cc01b01132b5c304027a658c698ae09dd6a92bf/yml/OSBinaries/Esentutl.yml
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-22
modified: 2024-06-04
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.003
    - car.2013-07-001
    - attack.s0404
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_esent_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\esentutl.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: '\esentutl.exe'
    selection_esent_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash:
            - 'vss'
            - ' /m '
            - ' /y '
    selection_susp_paths:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\config\RegBack\sam'
            - '\config\RegBack\security'
            - '\config\RegBack\system'
            - '\config\sam'
            - '\config\security'
            - '\config\system '        # space needed to avoid false positives with \config\systemprofile\
            - '\repair\sam'
            - '\repair\security'
            - '\repair\system'
            - '\windows\ntds\ntds.dit'
    condition: all of selection_esent_* or selection_susp_paths
falsepositives:
    - Copying sensitive files for legitimate use (eg. backup) or forensic investigation by legitimate incident responder or forensic investigator.
level: high

title: Create Volume Shadow Copy with Powershell
id: afd12fed-b0ec-45c9-a13d-aa86625dac81
status: test
description: Adversaries may attempt to access or create a copy of the Active Directory domain database in order to steal credential information
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/get-wmiobject?view=powershell-5.1&viewFallbackFrom=powershell-7
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-12
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
    - attack.ds0005
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection:
        ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
            - Win32_ShadowCopy
            - ').Create('
            - ClientAccessible
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate PowerShell scripts
level: high

title: Cred Dump Tools Dropped Files
id: 8fbf3271-1ef6-4e94-8210-03c2317947f6
status: test
description: Files with well-known filenames (parts of credential dump software or files produced by them) creation
references:
    - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov, oscd.community
date: 2019-11-01
modified: 2025-10-25
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.003
    - attack.t1003.004
    - attack.t1003.005
logsource:
    category: file_event
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - TargetFilename|contains:
              - '\fgdump-log'
              - '\kirbi'
              - '\pwdump'
              - '\pwhashes'
              - '\wce_ccache'
              - '\wce_krbtkts'
        - TargetFilename|endswith:
              - '\cachedump.exe'
              - '\cachedump64.exe'
              - '\DumpExt.dll'
              - '\DumpSvc.exe'
              - '\Dumpy.exe'
              - '\fgexec.exe'
              - '\lsremora.dll'
              - '\lsremora64.dll'
              - '\NTDS.out'
              - '\procdump.exe'
              - '\procdump64.exe'
              - '\procdump64a.exe'
              - '\pstgdump.exe'
              - '\pwdump.exe'
              - '\SAM.out'
              - '\SECURITY.out'
              - '\servpw.exe'
              - '\servpw64.exe'
              - '\SYSTEM.out'
              - '\test.pwd'
              - '\wceaux.dll'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate Administrator using tool for password recovery
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_cred_dump_tools_dropped_files/info.yml

title: NTDS Exfiltration Filename Patterns
id: 3a8da4e0-36c1-40d2-8b29-b3e890d5172a
status: test
description: Detects creation of files with specific name patterns seen used in various tools that export the NTDS.DIT for exfiltration.
references:
    - https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/eb6535009f5fdafa954525687f09294918b5398d/modules/post/windows/gather/ntds_grabber.rb
    - https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/eb6535009f5fdafa954525687f09294918b5398d/data/post/powershell/NTDSgrab.ps1
    - https://github.com/SecureAuthCorp/impacket/blob/7d2991d78836b376452ca58b3d14daa61b67cb40/impacket/examples/secretsdump.py#L2405
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-03-11
modified: 2023-05-05
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|endswith:
            - '\All.cab' # https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/eb6535009f5fdafa954525687f09294918b5398d/data/post/powershell/NTDSgrab.ps1
            - '.ntds.cleartext' # https://github.com/SecureAuthCorp/impacket/blob/7d2991d78836b376452ca58b3d14daa61b67cb40/impacket/examples/secretsdump.py#L2405
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: NTDS.DIT Creation By Uncommon Parent Process
id: 4e7050dd-e548-483f-b7d6-527ab4fa784d
related:
    - id: 11b1ed55-154d-4e82-8ad7-83739298f720
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects creation of a file named "ntds.dit" (Active Directory Database) by an uncommon parent process or directory
references:
    - https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/credential-access-and-credential-dumping/ntds.dit-enumeration
    - https://www.n00py.io/2022/03/manipulating-user-passwords-without-mimikatz/
    - https://pentestlab.blog/tag/ntds-dit/
    - https://github.com/samratashok/nishang/blob/414ee1104526d7057f9adaeee196d91ae447283e/Gather/Copy-VSS.ps1
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-03-11
modified: 2023-01-05
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
    definition: 'Requirements: The "ParentImage" field is not available by default on EID 11 of Sysmon logs. To be able to use this rule to the full extent you need to enrich the log with additional ParentImage data'
detection:
    selection_file:
        TargetFilename|endswith: '\ntds.dit'
    selection_process_parent:
        # Note: ParentImage is a custom field and is not available by default on Sysmon EID 11
        ParentImage|endswith:
            - '\cscript.exe'
            - '\httpd.exe'
            - '\nginx.exe'
            - '\php-cgi.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
            - '\w3wp.exe'
            - '\wscript.exe'
    selection_process_parent_path:
        # Note: ParentImage is a custom field and is not available by default on Sysmon EID 11
        ParentImage|contains:
            - '\apache'
            - '\tomcat'
            - '\AppData\'
            - '\Temp\'
            - '\Public\'
            - '\PerfLogs\'
    condition: selection_file and 1 of selection_process_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: NTDS.DIT Creation By Uncommon Process
id: 11b1ed55-154d-4e82-8ad7-83739298f720
related:
    - id: 4e7050dd-e548-483f-b7d6-527ab4fa784d
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects creation of a file named "ntds.dit" (Active Directory Database) by an uncommon process or a process located in a suspicious directory
references:
    - https://stealthbits.com/blog/extracting-password-hashes-from-the-ntds-dit-file/
    - https://adsecurity.org/?p=2398
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-01-11
modified: 2022-07-14
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection_ntds:
        TargetFilename|endswith: '\ntds.dit'
    selection_process_img:
        Image|endswith:
            # Add more suspicious processes as you see fit
            - '\cmd.exe'
            - '\cscript.exe'
            - '\mshta.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
            - '\regsvr32.exe'
            - '\rundll32.exe'
            - '\wscript.exe'
            - '\wsl.exe'
            - '\wt.exe'
    selection_process_paths:
        Image|contains:
            - '\AppData\'
            - '\Temp\'
            - '\Public\'
            - '\PerfLogs\'
    condition: selection_ntds and 1 of selection_process_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: PUA - DIT Snapshot Viewer
id: d3b70aad-097e-409c-9df2-450f80dc476b
status: test
description: Detects the use of Ditsnap tool, an inspection tool for Active Directory database, ntds.dit.
references:
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2020/06/21/snatch-ransomware/
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20201124182207/https://github.com/yosqueoy/ditsnap
author: Furkan Caliskan (@caliskanfurkan_)
date: 2020-07-04
modified: 2023-02-21
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Image|endswith: '\ditsnap.exe'
        - CommandLine|contains: 'ditsnap.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate admin usage
level: high

title: Possible Impacket SecretDump Remote Activity
id: 252902e3-5830-4cf6-bf21-c22083dfd5cf
status: test
description: Detect AD credential dumping using impacket secretdump HKTL
references:
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20230329153811/https://blog.menasec.net/2019/02/threat-huting-10-impacketsecretdump.html
author: Samir Bousseaden, wagga
date: 2019-04-03
modified: 2022-08-11
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.004
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
    definition: 'The advanced audit policy setting "Object Access > Audit Detailed File Share" must be configured for Success/Failure'
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 5145
        ShareName: '\\\\\*\\ADMIN$'  # looking for the string  \\*\ADMIN$
        RelativeTargetName|contains|all:
            - 'SYSTEM32\'
            - '.tmp'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Possible Impacket SecretDump Remote Activity - Zeek
id: 92dae1ed-1c9d-4eff-a567-33acbd95b00e
status: test
description: 'Detect AD credential dumping using impacket secretdump HKTL. Based on the SIGMA rules/windows/builtin/win_impacket_secretdump.yml'
references:
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20230329153811/https://blog.menasec.net/2019/02/threat-huting-10-impacketsecretdump.html
author: 'Samir Bousseaden, @neu5ron'
date: 2020-03-19
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.004
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: zeek
    service: smb_files
detection:
    selection:
        path|contains|all:
            - '\'
            - 'ADMIN$'
        name|contains: 'SYSTEM32\'
        name|endswith: '.tmp'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Sensitive File Dump Via Print.EXE
id: 2fcda7e2-8c57-4904-86ac-37fc3157e09d
status: test
description: |
    Detects the abuse of the Print.exe utility for credential harvesting which involves using Print.Exe to copy sensitive files such as ntds.dit, SAM, SECURITY, or SYSTEM from the Windows directory in order to extract credentials, locally or remotely.
references:
    - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2026/02/06/active-exploitation-solarwinds-web-help-desk/
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/credential-theft-expanding-your-reach-pt-2
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Print/
author: Ayush Anand (Securityinbits)
date: 2026-04-28
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1003.003
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1218
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\print.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'Print.EXE'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|windash: '/D'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\config\SAM'
            - '\config\SECURITY'
            - '\config\SYSTEM'
            - '\windows\ntds\ntds.dit'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_print_dump_sensitive_files/info.yml

title: Sensitive File Dump Via Wbadmin.EXE
id: 8b93a509-1cb8-42e1-97aa-ee24224cdc15
status: test
description: |
    Detects the dump of highly sensitive files such as "NTDS.DIT" and "SECURITY" hive.
    Attackers can leverage the "wbadmin" utility in order to dump sensitive files that might contain credential or sensitive information.
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/2cc01b01132b5c304027a658c698ae09dd6a92bf/yml/OSBinaries/Wbadmin.yml
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Wbadmin/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-recovery
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-backup
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), frack113
date: 2024-05-10
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wbadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'WBADMIN.EXE'
    selection_backup:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'start'
            - 'backup'
    selection_path:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\config\SAM'
            - '\config\SECURITY'
            - '\config\SYSTEM'
            - '\Windows\NTDS\NTDS.dit'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate backup operation by authorized administrators. Matches must be investigated and allowed on a case by case basis.
level: high

title: Sensitive File Recovery From Backup Via Wbadmin.EXE
id: 84972c80-251c-4c3a-9079-4f00aad93938
related:
    - id: 6fe4aa1e-0531-4510-8be2-782154b73b48
      type: derived
status: test
description: |
    Detects the dump of highly sensitive files such as "NTDS.DIT" and "SECURITY" hive.
    Attackers can leverage the "wbadmin" utility in order to dump sensitive files that might contain credential or sensitive information.
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/2cc01b01132b5c304027a658c698ae09dd6a92bf/yml/OSBinaries/Wbadmin.yml
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Wbadmin/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-recovery
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-backup
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), frack113
date: 2024-05-10
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wbadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'WBADMIN.EXE'
    selection_backup:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' recovery'
            - 'recoveryTarget'
            - 'itemtype:File'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\config\SAM'
            - '\config\SECURITY'
            - '\config\SYSTEM'
            - '\Windows\NTDS\NTDS.dit'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Suspicious Get-ADDBAccount Usage
id: b140afd9-474b-4072-958e-2ebb435abd68
status: test
description: Detects suspicious invocation of the Get-ADDBAccount script that reads from a ntds.dit file and may be used to get access to credentials without using any credential dumpers
references:
    - https://www.n00py.io/2022/03/manipulating-user-passwords-without-mimikatz/
    - https://github.com/MichaelGrafnetter/DSInternals/blob/7ba59c12ee9a1cb430d7dc186a3366842dd612c8/Documentation/PowerShell/Get-ADDBAccount.md
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-03-16
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_module
    definition: 0ad03ef1-f21b-4a79-8ce8-e6900c54b65b
detection:
    selection:
        Payload|contains|all:
            - 'Get-ADDBAccount'
            - 'BootKey '
            - 'DatabasePath '
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Suspicious Process Patterns NTDS.DIT Exfil
id: 8bc64091-6875-4881-aaf9-7bd25b5dda08
status: test
description: Detects suspicious process patterns used in NTDS.DIT exfiltration
references:
    - https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/credential-access-and-credential-dumping/ntds.dit-enumeration
    - https://www.n00py.io/2022/03/manipulating-user-passwords-without-mimikatz/
    - https://pentestlab.blog/tag/ntds-dit/
    - https://github.com/samratashok/nishang/blob/414ee1104526d7057f9adaeee196d91ae447283e/Gather/Copy-VSS.ps1
    - https://github.com/zcgonvh/NTDSDumpEx
    - https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/d297adcebb5c1df6fe30b12ca79b161deb71571c/data/post/powershell/NTDSgrab.ps1
    - https://blog.talosintelligence.com/2022/08/recent-cyber-attack.html?m=1
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-03-11
modified: 2022-11-10
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_tool:
        # https://github.com/zcgonvh/NTDSDumpEx
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\NTDSDump.exe'
              - '\NTDSDumpEx.exe'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              # ntdsdumpex.exe -d ntds.dit -o hash.txt -s system.hiv
              - 'ntds.dit'
              - 'system.hiv'
        - CommandLine|contains: 'NTDSgrab.ps1'
    selection_oneliner_1:
        # powershell "ntdsutil.exe 'ac i ntds' 'ifm' 'create full c:\temp' q q"
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'ac i ntds'
            - 'create full'
    selection_onliner_2:
        # cmd.exe /c copy z:\windows\ntds\ntds.dit c:\exfil\ntds.dit
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/c copy '
            - '\windows\ntds\ntds.dit'
    selection_onliner_3:
        # ntdsutil "activate instance ntds" "ifm" "create full c:\windows\temp\data\" "quit" "quit"
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'activate instance ntds'
            - 'create full'
    selection_powershell:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'powershell'
            - 'ntds.dit'
    set1_selection_ntds_dit:
        CommandLine|contains: 'ntds.dit'
    set1_selection_image_folder:
        - ParentImage|contains:
              - '\apache'
              - '\tomcat'
              - '\AppData\'
              - '\Temp\'
              - '\Public\'
              - '\PerfLogs\'
        - Image|contains:
              - '\apache'
              - '\tomcat'
              - '\AppData\'
              - '\Temp\'
              - '\Public\'
              - '\PerfLogs\'
    condition: 1 of selection* or all of set1*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: VolumeShadowCopy Symlink Creation Via Mklink
id: 40b19fa6-d835-400c-b301-41f3a2baacaf
status: stable
description: Shadow Copies storage symbolic link creation using operating systems utilities
references:
    - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-22
modified: 2023-03-06
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'mklink'
            - 'HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administrator working with shadow copies, access for backup purposes
level: high

title: Esentutl Gather Credentials
id: 7df1713a-1a5b-4a4b-a071-dc83b144a101
status: test
description: Conti recommendation to its affiliates to use esentutl to access NTDS dumped file. Trickbot also uses this utilities to get MSEdge info via its module pwgrab.
references:
    - https://twitter.com/vxunderground/status/1423336151860002816
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2021/08/01/bazarcall-to-conti-ransomware-via-trickbot-and-cobalt-strike/
author: sam0x90
date: 2021-08-06
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003
    - attack.t1003.003
    - attack.s0404
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'esentutl'
            - ' /p'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - To be determined
level: medium

title: Invocation of Active Directory Diagnostic Tool (ntdsutil.exe)
id: 2afafd61-6aae-4df4-baed-139fa1f4c345
status: test
description: Detects execution of ntdsutil.exe, which can be used for various attacks against the NTDS database (NTDS.DIT)
references:
    - https://jpcertcc.github.io/ToolAnalysisResultSheet/details/ntdsutil.htm
author: Thomas Patzke
date: 2019-01-16
modified: 2022-03-11
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\ntdsutil.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - NTDS maintenance
level: medium

title: Ntdsutil Abuse
id: e6e88853-5f20-4c4a-8d26-cd469fd8d31f
status: test
description: Detects potential abuse of ntdsutil to dump ntds.dit database
references:
    - https://twitter.com/mgreen27/status/1558223256704122882
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/jj574207(v=ws.11)
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-08-14
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: application
    # warning: The 'data' field used in the detection section is the container for the event data as a whole. You may have to adapt the rule for your backend accordingly
detection:
    selection:
        Provider_Name: 'ESENT'
        EventID:
            - 216
            - 325
            - 326
            - 327
        Data|contains: 'ntds.dit'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate backup operation/creating shadow copies
level: medium

title: Shadow Copies Creation Using Operating Systems Utilities
id: b17ea6f7-6e90-447e-a799-e6c0a493d6ce
status: test
description: Shadow Copies creation using operating systems utilities, possible credential access
references:
    - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
    - https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/tutorial-for-ntds-goodness-vssadmin-wmis-ntdsdit-system/
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov, Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-22
modified: 2022-11-10
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
              - '\wmic.exe'
              - '\vssadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'PowerShell.EXE'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
              - 'wmic.exe'
              - 'VSSADMIN.EXE'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'shadow'
            - 'create'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate administrator working with shadow copies, access for backup purposes
level: medium

title: Suspicious Usage Of Active Directory Diagnostic Tool (ntdsutil.exe)
id: a58353df-af43-4753-bad0-cd83ef35eef5
related:
    - id: 2afafd61-6aae-4df4-baed-139fa1f4c345
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects execution of ntdsutil.exe to perform different actions such as restoring snapshots...etc.
references:
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/cc731620(v=ws.11)
    - https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/espionage-asia-governments
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-09-14
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\ntdsutil.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'ntdsutil.exe'
    selection_cli:
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'snapshot'
              - 'mount ' # mounts a specific snapshot - Ex: ntdsutil snapshot "mount c2b3e2c6-1ffb-4625-ba8e-3503c27a9fcb" quit quit
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              # This offers more coverage to the "selection_oneliner_1" case in rule 8bc64091-6875-4881-aaf9-7bd25b5dda08
              # The shorest form of "activate" can "ac". But "act", "acti"...etc are also valid forms
              # Same case with the "instance" flag
              - 'ac'
              - ' i'
              - ' ntds'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage to restore snapshots
    - Legitimate admin activity
level: medium

title: Transferring Files with Credential Data via Network Shares
id: 910ab938-668b-401b-b08c-b596e80fdca5
related:
    - id: 2e69f167-47b5-4ae7-a390-47764529eff5
      type: similar
status: test
description: Transferring files with well-known filenames (sensitive files with credential data) using network shares
references:
    - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-22
modified: 2025-07-11
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
detection:
    selection_eid:
        EventID: 5145
    selection_object:
        - RelativeTargetName|contains:
              - '\mimidrv'
              - '\lsass'
              - '\windows\minidump\'
              - '\hiberfil'
              - '\sqldmpr'
        - RelativeTargetName:
              - 'Windows\NTDS\ntds.dit'
              - 'Windows\System32\config\SAM'
              - 'Windows\System32\config\SECURITY'
              - 'Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Transferring sensitive files for legitimate administration work by legitimate administrator
level: medium

title: Transferring Files with Credential Data via Network Shares - Zeek
id: 2e69f167-47b5-4ae7-a390-47764529eff5
related:
    - id: 910ab938-668b-401b-b08c-b596e80fdca5
      type: similar
status: test
description: Transferring files with well-known filenames (sensitive files with credential data) using network shares
references:
    - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
author: '@neu5ron, Teymur Kheirkhabarov, oscd.community'
date: 2020-04-02
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: zeek
    service: smb_files
detection:
    selection:
        name:
            - '\mimidrv'
            - '\lsass'
            - '\windows\minidump\'
            - '\hiberfil'
            - '\sqldmpr'
            - '\sam'
            - '\ntds.dit'
            - '\security'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Transferring sensitive files for legitimate administration work by legitimate administrator
level: medium

title: NTDS.DIT Created
id: 0b8baa3f-575c-46ee-8715-d6f28cc7d33c
status: test
description: Detects creation of a file named "ntds.dit" (Active Directory Database)
references:
    - Internal Research
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-05
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|endswith: 'ntds.dit'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: low