Adversaries may attempt to access credential material stored in the process memory of the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). After a user logs on, the system generates and stores a variety of credential materials in LSASS process memory. These credential materials can be harvested by an administrative user or SYSTEM and used to conduct Lateral Movement using Use Alternate Authentication Material.

As well as in-memory techniques, the LSASS process memory can be dumped from the target host and analyzed on a local system.

For example, on the target host use procdump:

• procdump -ma lsass.exe lsass_dump

Locally, mimikatz can be run using:

• sekurlsa::Minidump lsassdump.dmp
• sekurlsa::logonPasswords

Built-in Windows tools such as comsvcs.dll can also be used:

• rundll32.exe C:\Windows\System32\comsvcs.dll MiniDump PID lsass.dmp full^[1],[2]

Similar to Image File Execution Options Injection, the silent process exit mechanism can be abused to create a memory dump of lsass.exe through Windows Error Reporting (WerFault.exe).^[3]

Windows Security Support Provider (SSP) DLLs are loaded into LSASS process at system start. Once loaded into the LSA, SSP DLLs have access to encrypted and plaintext passwords that are stored in Windows, such as any logged-on user's Domain password or smart card PINs. The SSP configuration is stored in two Registry keys: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\Security Packages and HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\OSConfig\Security Packages. An adversary may modify these Registry keys to add new SSPs, which will be loaded the next time the system boots, or when the AddSecurityPackage Windows API function is called.^[4]

The following SSPs can be used to access credentials:

• Msv: Interactive logons, batch logons, and service logons are done through the MSV authentication package.
• Wdigest: The Digest Authentication protocol is designed for use with Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Simple Authentication Security Layer (SASL) exchanges.^[5]
• Kerberos: Preferred for mutual client-server domain authentication in Windows 2000 and later.
• CredSSP: Provides SSO and Network Level Authentication for Remote Desktop Services.^[5]

References

1. Gruzweig, J. et al. (2021, March 2). Operation Exchange Marauder: Active Exploitation of Multiple Zero-Day Microsoft Exchange Vulnerabilities. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
2. Symantec. (2021, June 10). Attacks Against the Government Sector. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
3. Gilboa, A. (2021, February 16). LSASS Memory Dumps are Stealthier than Ever Before - Part 2. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
4. Graeber, M. (2014, October). Analysis of Malicious Security Support Provider DLLs. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
5. Wilson, B. (2016, April 18). The Importance of KB2871997 and KB2928120 for Credential Protection. Retrieved April 11, 2018.

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