t1550-002-pass-the-hash

name	T1550.002_pass-the-hash
description	Adversaries may “pass the hash” using stolen password hashes to move laterally within an environment, bypassing normal system access controls.
category	configuration
version	18.1
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["mitre-attack","enterprise","t1550.002","defense-evasion","lateral-movement","windows","sub-technique"]
technique_id	T1550.002
tactic	defense-evasion
all_tactics	["defense-evasion","lateral-movement"]
platforms	["Windows"]
mitre_url	https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550/002
tech_stack	["windows"]
cwe_ids	["CWE-693"]
chains_with	["T1550","T1550.001","T1550.003","T1550.004"]
prerequisites	["T1550"]
severity_boost	{"T1550":"Chain with T1550 for deeper attack path","T1550.001":"Chain with T1550.001 for deeper attack path","T1550.003":"Chain with T1550.003 for deeper attack path"}

T1550.002 Pass the Hash

Sub-technique of: T1550

High-Level Description

Adversaries may “pass the hash” using stolen password hashes to move laterally within an environment, bypassing normal system access controls. Pass the hash (PtH) is a method of authenticating as a user without having access to the user's cleartext password. This method bypasses standard authentication steps that require a cleartext password, moving directly into the portion of the authentication that uses the password hash.

When performing PtH, valid password hashes for the account being used are captured using a Credential Access technique. Captured hashes are used with PtH to authenticate as that user. Once authenticated, PtH may be used to perform actions on local or remote systems.

Adversaries may also use stolen password hashes to "overpass the hash." Similar to PtH, this involves using a password hash to authenticate as a user but also uses the password hash to create a valid Kerberos ticket. This ticket can then be used to perform Pass the Ticket attacks.

Kill Chain Phase

• Defense Evasion (TA0005)
• Lateral Movement (TA0008)

Platforms: Windows

What to Check

• Identify if Pass the Hash technique is applicable to target environment
• Check Windows systems for indicators of Pass the Hash
• Verify mitigations are bypassed or absent (4 known mitigations)
• Assess detection coverage (1 detection strategies)

How to Test

Atomic Red Team Tests

The following tests are from Atomic Red Team and provide actionable ways to test this technique:

Atomic Test 1: Mimikatz Pass the Hash

Note: must dump hashes first Reference

Supported Platforms: windows

#{mimikatz_path} "sekurlsa::pth /user:#{user_name} /domain:#{domain} /ntlm:#{ntlm}"

Dependencies:

• Mimikatz executor must exist on disk and at specified location (#{mimikatz_path})

Atomic Test 2: crackmapexec Pass the Hash

command execute with crackmapexec

Supported Platforms: windows