title: HackTool - Mimikatz Kirbi File Creation
id: 9e099d99-44c2-42b6-a6d8-54c3545cab29
related:
    - id: 034affe8-6170-11ec-844f-0f78aa0c4d66
      type: obsolete
status: test
description: Detects the creation of files created by mimikatz such as ".kirbi", "mimilsa.log", etc.
references:
    - https://cobalt.io/blog/kerberoast-attack-techniques
    - https://pentestlab.blog/2019/10/21/persistence-security-support-provider/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), David ANDRE
date: 2021-11-08
modified: 2024-06-27
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1558
logsource:
    category: file_event
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|endswith:
            - '.kirbi' # Kerberos tickets
            - 'mimilsa.log' # MemSSP default file
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: critical

title: Zerologon Exploitation Using Well-known Tools
id: 18f37338-b9bd-4117-a039-280c81f7a596
status: stable
description: This rule is designed to detect attempts to exploit Zerologon (CVE-2020-1472) vulnerability using mimikatz zerologon module or other exploits from machine with "kali" hostname.
references:
    - https://www.secura.com/blog/zero-logon
    - https://bi-zone.medium.com/hunting-for-zerologon-f65c61586382
author: 'Demyan Sokolin @_drd0c, Teymur Kheirkhabarov @HeirhabarovT, oscd.community'
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2021-05-30
tags:
    - attack.t1210
    - attack.lateral-movement
logsource:
    service: system
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        EventID:
            - 5805
            - 5723
    keywords:
        - kali
        - mimikatz
    condition: selection and keywords
level: critical

title: Potential Invoke-Mimikatz PowerShell Script
id: 189e3b02-82b2-4b90-9662-411eb64486d4
status: test
description: Detects Invoke-Mimikatz PowerShell script and alike. Mimikatz is a credential dumper capable of obtaining plaintext Windows account logins and passwords.
references:
    - https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/potential-invoke-mimikatz-powershell-script.html#potential-invoke-mimikatz-powershell-script
author: Tim Rauch, Elastic (idea)
date: 2022-09-28
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003
logsource:
    category: ps_script
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_1:
        ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
            - 'DumpCreds'
            - 'DumpCerts'
    selection_2:
        ScriptBlockText|contains: 'sekurlsa::logonpasswords'
    selection_3:
        ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
            - 'crypto::certificates'
            - 'CERT_SYSTEM_STORE_LOCAL_MACHINE'
    condition: 1 of selection*
falsepositives:
    - Mimikatz can be useful for testing the security of networks
level: high

title: DPAPI Backup Keys And Certificate Export Activity IOC
id: 7892ec59-c5bb-496d-8968-e5d210ca3ac4
status: test
description: |
    Detects file names with specific patterns seen generated and used by tools such as Mimikatz and DSInternals related to exported or stolen DPAPI backup keys and certificates.
references:
    - https://www.dsinternals.com/en/dpapi-backup-key-theft-auditing/
    - https://github.com/MichaelGrafnetter/DSInternals/blob/39ee8a69bbdc1cfd12c9afdd7513b4788c4895d4/Src/DSInternals.Common/Data/DPAPI/DPAPIBackupKey.cs#L28-L32
author: Nounou Mbeiri, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2024-06-26
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1555
    - attack.t1552.004
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        TargetFilename|contains:
            - 'ntds_capi_'
            - 'ntds_legacy_'
            - 'ntds_unknown_'
        TargetFilename|endswith:
            - '.cer'
            - '.key'
            - '.pfx'
            - '.pvk'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: HackTool - Mimikatz Execution
id: a642964e-bead-4bed-8910-1bb4d63e3b4d
status: test
description: Detection well-known mimikatz command line arguments
references:
    - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
    - https://tools.thehacker.recipes/mimikatz/modules
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov, oscd.community, David ANDRE (additional keywords), Tim Shelton
date: 2019-10-22
modified: 2023-02-21
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.004
    - attack.t1003.005
    - attack.t1003.006
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_tools_name:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'DumpCreds'
            - 'mimikatz'
    selection_function_names: # To cover functions from modules that are not in module_names
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '::aadcookie' # misc module
            - '::detours' # misc module
            - '::memssp' # misc module
            - '::mflt' # misc module
            - '::ncroutemon' # misc module
            - '::ngcsign' # misc module
            - '::printnightmare' # misc module
            - '::skeleton' # misc module
            - '::preshutdown'  # service module
            - '::mstsc'  # ts module
            - '::multirdp'  # ts module
    selection_module_names:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'rpc::'
            - 'token::'
            - 'crypto::'
            - 'dpapi::'
            - 'sekurlsa::'
            - 'kerberos::'
            - 'lsadump::'
            - 'privilege::'
            - 'process::'
            - 'vault::'
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: HackTool - SharpDPAPI Execution
id: c7d33b50-f690-4b51-8cfb-0fb912a31e57
status: test
description: |
    Detects the execution of the SharpDPAPI tool based on CommandLine flags and PE metadata.
    SharpDPAPI is a C# port of some DPAPI functionality from the Mimikatz project.
references:
    - https://github.com/GhostPack/SharpDPAPI
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2024-06-26
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1134.001
    - attack.t1134.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\SharpDPAPI.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'SharpDPAPI.exe'
    selection_other_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' backupkey '
            - ' blob '
            - ' certificates '
            - ' credentials '
            - ' keepass '
            - ' masterkeys '
            - ' rdg '
            - ' vaults '
    selection_other_options_guid:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' {'
            - '}:'
    selection_other_options_flags:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' /file:'
            - ' /machine'
            - ' /mkfile:'
            - ' /password:'
            - ' /pvk:'
            - ' /server:'
            - ' /target:'
            - ' /unprotect'
    condition: selection_img or (selection_other_cli and 1 of selection_other_options_*)
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Suspicious Process Access to LSASS with Dbgcore/Dbghelp DLLs
id: 9f5c1d59-33be-4e60-bcab-85d2f566effd
related:
    - id: 416bc4a2-7217-4519-8dc7-c3271817f1d5
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects suspicious process access to LSASS.exe from processes located in uncommon locations with dbgcore.dll or dbghelp.dll in the call trace.
    These DLLs contain functions like MiniDumpWriteDump that can be abused for credential dumping purposes. While modern tools like Mimikatz have moved to using ntdll.dll,
    dbgcore.dll and dbghelp.dll are still used by basic credential dumping utilities and legacy tools for LSASS memory access and process suspension techniques.
references:
    - https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/security/you-bet-your-lsass-hunting-lsass-access.html
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/nf-minidumpwritedump
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-11-27
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.t1685
logsource:
    category: process_access
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_lsass_calltrace:
        TargetImage|endswith: '\lsass.exe'
        CallTrace|contains:
            - 'dbgcore.dll'
            - 'dbghelp.dll'
    # The following selection is commented out and not enabled by default because any access to LSASS with dbgcore.dll or dbghelp.dll in the call trace from uncommon locations is assumed to be suspicious,
    # but it may reduce false positives if the rule is too noisy. These GrantedAccess bits are commonly used for dumping LSASS memory.
    # Uncomment if you observe false positives with the default rule.
    # selection_granted_access:
    #     GrantedAccess|contains:
    #         - '0x1fffff'
    #         - '0x10'
    #         - '0x1010'
    #         - '0x1410'
    #         - '0x1438'
    selection_susp_location:
        SourceImage|contains:
            - ':\Perflogs\'
            - ':\Temp\'
            - ':\Users\Public\'
            - '\$Recycle.Bin\'
            - '\AppData\Roaming\'
            - '\Contacts\'
            - '\Desktop\'
            - '\Documents\'
            - '\Downloads\'
            - '\Favorites\'
            - '\Favourites\'
            - '\inetpub\wwwroot\'
            - '\Music\'
            - '\Pictures\'
            - '\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\'
            - '\Users\Default\'
            - '\Videos\'
            - '\Windows\Temp\'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Possibly during software installation or update processes
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_access/proc_access_win_susp_dbgcore_dbghelp_load/info.yml

title: Remote LSASS Process Access Through Windows Remote Management
id: aa35a627-33fb-4d04-a165-d33b4afca3e8
status: stable
description: Detects remote access to the LSASS process via WinRM. This could be a sign of credential dumping from tools like mimikatz.
references:
    - https://pentestlab.blog/2018/05/15/lateral-movement-winrm/
author: Patryk Prauze - ING Tech
date: 2019-05-20
modified: 2023-11-29
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.t1059.001
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.t1021.006
    - attack.s0002
logsource:
    category: process_access
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetImage|endswith: '\lsass.exe'
        SourceImage|endswith: ':\Windows\system32\wsmprovhost.exe'
    filter_main_access:
        GrantedAccess: '0x80000000'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: Credential Dumping Attempt Via WerFault
id: e5b33f7d-eb93-48b6-9851-09e1e610b6d7
status: test
description: Detects process LSASS memory dump using Mimikatz, NanoDump, Invoke-Mimikatz, Procdump or Taskmgr based on the CallTrace pointing to ntdll.dll, dbghelp.dll or dbgcore.dll for win10, server2016 and up.
references:
    - https://github.com/helpsystems/nanodump/commit/578116faea3d278d53d70ea932e2bbfe42569507
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2012-06-27
modified: 2023-11-29
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.s0002
logsource:
    category: process_access
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        SourceImage|endswith: '\WerFault.exe'
        TargetImage|endswith: '\lsass.exe'
        GrantedAccess: '0x1FFFFF'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Actual failures in lsass.exe that trigger a crash dump (unlikely)
    - Unknown cases in which WerFault accesses lsass.exe
level: high

title: Mimikatz Use
id: 06d71506-7beb-4f22-8888-e2e5e2ca7fd8
status: test
description: This method detects mimikatz keywords in different Eventlogs (some of them only appear in older Mimikatz version that are however still used by different threat groups)
references:
    - https://tools.thehacker.recipes/mimikatz/modules
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), David ANDRE (additional keywords)
date: 2017-01-10
modified: 2022-01-05
tags:
    - attack.s0002
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.credential-access
    - car.2013-07-001
    - car.2019-04-004
    - attack.t1003.002
    - attack.t1003.004
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.t1003.006
logsource:
    product: windows
detection:
    keywords:
        - 'dpapi::masterkey'
        - 'eo.oe.kiwi'
        - 'event::clear'
        - 'event::drop'
        - 'gentilkiwi.com'
        - 'kerberos::golden'
        - 'kerberos::ptc'
        - 'kerberos::ptt'
        - 'kerberos::tgt'
        - 'Kiwi Legit Printer'
        - 'lsadump::'
        - 'mimidrv.sys'
        - '\mimilib.dll'
        - 'misc::printnightmare'
        - 'misc::shadowcopies'
        - 'misc::skeleton'
        - 'privilege::backup'
        - 'privilege::debug'
        - 'privilege::driver'
        - 'sekurlsa::'
    filter:
        EventID: 15  # Sysmon's FileStream Events (could cause false positives when Sigma rules get copied on/to a system)
    condition: keywords and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Naughty administrators
    - AV Signature updates
    - Files with Mimikatz in their filename
level: high

title: Mimikatz DC Sync
id: 611eab06-a145-4dfa-a295-3ccc5c20f59a
status: test
description: Detects Mimikatz DC sync security events
references:
    - https://twitter.com/gentilkiwi/status/1003236624925413376
    - https://gist.github.com/gentilkiwi/dcc132457408cf11ad2061340dcb53c2
    - https://blog.blacklanternsecurity.com/p/detecting-dcsync?s=r
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-10/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4662
author: Benjamin Delpy, Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Scott Dermott, Sorina Ionescu
date: 2018-06-03
modified: 2022-04-26
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.s0002
    - attack.t1003.006
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 4662
        Properties|contains:
            - 'Replicating Directory Changes All'
            - '1131f6ad-9c07-11d1-f79f-00c04fc2dcd2'
            - '1131f6aa-9c07-11d1-f79f-00c04fc2dcd2'
            - '9923a32a-3607-11d2-b9be-0000f87a36b2'
            - '89e95b76-444d-4c62-991a-0facbeda640c'
        AccessMask: '0x100'
    filter1:
        SubjectDomainName: 'Window Manager'
    filter2:
        SubjectUserName|startswith:
            - 'NT AUT'
            - 'MSOL_'
    filter3:
        SubjectUserName|endswith: '$'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter*
falsepositives:
    - Valid DC Sync that is not covered by the filters; please report
    - Local Domain Admin account used for Azure AD Connect
level: high

title: Successful Overpass the Hash Attempt
id: 192a0330-c20b-4356-90b6-7b7049ae0b87
status: test
description: Detects successful logon with logon type 9 (NewCredentials) which matches the Overpass the Hash behavior of e.g Mimikatz's sekurlsa::pth module.
references:
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20220419045003/https://cyberwardog.blogspot.com/2017/04/chronicles-of-threat-hunter-hunting-for.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez (source), Dominik Schaudel (rule)
date: 2018-02-12
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.s0002
    - attack.t1550.002
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 4624
        LogonType: 9
        LogonProcessName: seclogo
        AuthenticationPackageName: Negotiate
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Runas command-line tool using /netonly parameter
level: high

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

title: Credential Manager Access By Uncommon Applications
id: 407aecb1-e762-4acf-8c7b-d087bcff3bb6
status: test
description: |
    Detects suspicious processes based on name and location that access the windows credential manager and vault.
    Which can be a sign of credential stealing. Example case would be usage of mimikatz "dpapi::cred" function
references:
    - https://hunter2.gitbook.io/darthsidious/privilege-escalation/mimikatz
    - https://www.absolomb.com/2018-01-26-Windows-Privilege-Escalation-Guide/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-10-11
modified: 2024-07-29
tags:
    - attack.t1003
    - attack.credential-access
logsource:
    category: file_access
    product: windows
    definition: 'Requirements: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-File ETW provider'
detection:
    selection:
        FileName|contains:
            - '\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\'
            - '\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\'
            - '\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Vault\'
            - '\ProgramData\Microsoft\Vault\'
    filter_system_folders:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files\'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
            - 'C:\Windows\system32\'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate software installed by the users for example in the "AppData" directory may access these files (for any reason).
# Increase level after false positives filters are good enough
level: medium

title: Access To Windows DPAPI Master Keys By Uncommon Applications
id: 46612ae6-86be-4802-bc07-39b59feb1309
status: test
description: |
    Detects file access requests to the the Windows Data Protection API Master keys by an uncommon application.
    This can be a sign of credential stealing. Example case would be usage of mimikatz "dpapi::masterkey" function
references:
    - http://blog.harmj0y.net/redteaming/operational-guidance-for-offensive-user-dpapi-abuse/
    - https://book.hacktricks.xyz/windows-hardening/windows-local-privilege-escalation/dpapi-extracting-passwords
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|contains:
            - '\Microsoft\Protect\S-1-5-18\' # For System32
            - '\Microsoft\Protect\S-1-5-21-' # For Users
    filter_system_folders:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files\'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
            - 'C:\Windows\system32\'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
# Increase level after false positives filters are good enough
level: medium

title: Potential Credential Dumping Activity Via LSASS
id: 5ef9853e-4d0e-4a70-846f-a9ca37d876da
status: test
description: |
    Detects process access requests to the LSASS process with specific call trace calls and access masks.
    This behaviour is expressed by many credential dumping tools such as Mimikatz, NanoDump, Invoke-Mimikatz, Procdump and even the Taskmgr dumping feature.
references:
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20230329170326/https://blog.menasec.net/2019/02/threat-hunting-21-procdump-or-taskmgr.html
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20230208123920/https://cyberwardog.blogspot.com/2017/03/chronicles-of-threat-hunter-hunting-for_22.html
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1003.001/T1003.001.md
    - https://research.splunk.com/endpoint/windows_possible_credential_dumping/
author: Samir Bousseaden, Michael Haag
date: 2019-04-03
modified: 2024-03-02
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.001
    - attack.s0002
logsource:
    category: process_access
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        TargetImage|endswith: '\lsass.exe'
        GrantedAccess|contains:
            - '0x1038'
            - '0x1438'
            - '0x143a'
            - '0x1fffff' # Too many false positives
            # - '0x01000'  # Too many false positives
            # - '0x1010'   # Too many false positives
            # - '0x1400'  # Too many false positives
            # - '0x1410' # Too many false positives
            # - '0x40'   # Too many false positives
        CallTrace|contains:
            - 'dbgcore.dll'
            - 'dbghelp.dll'
            - 'kernel32.dll'
            - 'kernelbase.dll'
            - 'ntdll.dll'
    filter_main_system_user:
        SourceUser|contains: # Covers many language settings
            - 'AUTHORI'
            - 'AUTORI'
    filter_optional_thor:
        CallTrace|contains|all:
            - ':\Windows\Temp\asgard2-agent\'
            - '\thor\thor64.exe+'
            - '|UNKNOWN('
        GrantedAccess: '0x103800'
    filter_optional_sysmon:
        SourceImage|endswith: ':\Windows\Sysmon64.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: LSASS Access From Non System Account
id: 962fe167-e48d-4fd6-9974-11e5b9a5d6d1
status: test
description: Detects potential mimikatz-like tools accessing LSASS from non system account
references:
    - https://threathunterplaybook.com/hunts/windows/170105-LSASSMemoryReadAccess/notebook.html
author: Roberto Rodriguez @Cyb3rWard0g
date: 2019-06-20
modified: 2023-12-11
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
detection:
    selection:
        EventID:
            - 4663
            - 4656
        AccessMask:
            - '0x100000'
            - '0x1010'    # car.2019-04-004
            - '0x1400'
            - '0x1410'    # car.2019-04-004
            - '0x1418'    # car.2019-04-004
            - '0x1438'    # car.2019-04-004
            - '0x143a'    # car.2019-04-004
            - '0x1f0fff'
            - '0x1f1fff'
            - '0x1f2fff'
            - '0x1f3fff'
            - '0x40'
            - '143a'    # car.2019-04-004
            - '1f0fff'
            - '1f1fff'
            - '1f2fff'
            - '1f3fff'
            # - '0x1000'  # minimum access requirements to query basic info from service
        ObjectType: 'Process'
        ObjectName|endswith: '\lsass.exe'
    filter_main_service_account:
        SubjectUserName|endswith: '$'
    filter_main_generic:
        ProcessName|contains:
            # Legitimate AV and EDR solutions
            - ':\Program Files\'
            - ':\Program Files (x86)\'
    filter_main_wmiprvse:
        ProcessName: 'C:\Windows\System32\wbem\WmiPrvSE.exe'
        AccessMask: '0x1410'
    filter_optional_steam:
        ProcessName|contains: '\SteamLibrary\steamapps\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium