Cross-source coverage

T1003.005 / ATT&CK

OS Credential Dumping: Cached Domain Credentials

15 rules across 4 sources.

From MITRE ATT&CK 19.2

Adversaries may attempt to access cached domain credentials used to allow authentication to occur in the event a domain controller is unavailable.

On Windows Vista and newer, the hash format is DCC2 (Domain Cached Credentials version 2) hash, also known as MS-Cache v2 hash. The number of default cached credentials varies and can be altered per system. This hash does not allow pass-the-hash style attacks, and instead requires Password Cracking to recover the plaintext password.

On Linux systems, Active Directory credentials can be accessed through caches maintained by software like System Security Services Daemon (SSSD) or Quest Authentication Services (formerly VAS). Cached credential hashes are typically located at /var/lib/sss/db/cache.[domain].ldb for SSSD or /var/opt/quest/vas/authcache/vas_auth.vdb for Quest. Adversaries can use utilities, such as tdbdump, on these database files to dump the cached hashes and use Password Cracking to obtain the plaintext password.

With SYSTEM or sudo access, the tools/utilities such as Mimikatz, Reg, and secretsdump.py for Windows or Linikatz for Linux can be used to extract the cached credentials.

Note: Cached credentials for Windows Vista are derived using PBKDF2.

Platforms
Windows · Linux
Telemetry
WinEventLog:SecurityWinEventLog:Sysmonauditd:SYSCALLauditd:EXECVElinux:osquery

How MITRE says to detect it DET0513

Detection of Cached Domain Credential Dumping via Local Hash Cache Access

Windows Analytic 1417

Detects adversary behavior accessing Windows cached domain credential files using tools like Mimikatz, reg.exe, or PowerShell, often combined with registry exports or LSASS memory scraping.

  • WinEventLog:Security EventCode=4663, 4670, 4656
  • WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1
  • WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=10

Linux Analytic 1418

Detects access to SSSD or Quest VAS cached credential databases using tdbdump or other file access patterns, requiring sudo/root access.

  • auditd:SYSCALL file
  • auditd:EXECVE EXECVE
  • linux:osquery process_events

View on attack.mitre.org ↗

SigmaHQ/sigma

8 rules
Detection Severity Format
HackTool - Credential Dumping Tools Named Pipe Created Critical Sigma
Cred Dump Tools Dropped Files High Sigma
Credential Dumping Tools Service Execution - Security High Sigma
Credential Dumping Tools Service Execution - System High Sigma
Dumping of Sensitive Hives Via Reg.EXE High Sigma
HackTool - Mimikatz Execution High Sigma
Potential Reconnaissance For Cached Credentials Via Cmdkey.EXE High Sigma
New Generic Credentials Added Via Cmdkey.EXE Medium Sigma

elastic/detection-rules

3 rules
Detection Severity Format
Potential Invoke-Mimikatz PowerShell Script Critical Elastic TOML
PowerShell Invoke-NinjaCopy script High Elastic TOML
Sensitive Registry Hive Access via RegBack High Elastic TOML

elastic/protections-artifacts

3 rules
Detection Severity Format
Remote Access to Sensitive Registry Keys Undefined Elastic TOML
Suspicious Access to LSA Secrets Registry Undefined Elastic TOML
System BootKey Registry Access Undefined Elastic TOML

splunk/security_content

1 rule
Detection Severity Format
Windows Cached Domain Credentials Reg Query Undefined SPL

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