| name | T1556.002_password-filter-dll |
| description | Adversaries may register malicious password filter dynamic link libraries (DLLs) into the authentication process to acquire user credentials as they are validated. |
| category | authentication |
| version | 18.1 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["mitre-attack","enterprise","t1556.002","credential-access","defense-evasion","persistence","windows","sub-technique"] |
| technique_id | T1556.002 |
| tactic | credential-access |
| all_tactics | ["credential-access","defense-evasion","persistence"] |
| platforms | ["Windows"] |
| mitre_url | https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1556/002 |
| tech_stack | ["windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-522"] |
| chains_with | ["T1556","T1556.001","T1556.003","T1556.004","T1556.005","T1556.006","T1556.007","T1556.008","T1556.009"] |
| prerequisites | ["T1556"] |
| severity_boost | {"T1556":"Chain with T1556 for deeper attack path","T1556.001":"Chain with T1556.001 for deeper attack path","T1556.003":"Chain with T1556.003 for deeper attack path"} |
T1556.002 Password Filter DLL
Sub-technique of: T1556
High-Level Description
Adversaries may register malicious password filter dynamic link libraries (DLLs) into the authentication process to acquire user credentials as they are validated.
Windows password filters are password policy enforcement mechanisms for both domain and local accounts. Filters are implemented as DLLs containing a method to validate potential passwords against password policies. Filter DLLs can be positioned on local computers for local accounts and/or domain controllers for domain accounts. Before registering new passwords in the Security Accounts Manager (SAM), the Local Security Authority (LSA) requests validation from each registered filter. Any potential changes cannot take effect until every registered filter acknowledges validation.
Adversaries can register malicious password filters to harvest credentials from local computers and/or entire domains. To perform proper validation, filters must receive plain-text credentials from the LSA. A malicious password filter would receive these plain-text credentials every time a password request is made.
Kill Chain Phase
- Credential Access (TA0006)
- Defense Evasion (TA0005)
- Persistence (TA0003)
Platforms: Windows
What to Check
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: Install and Register Password Filter DLL
Uses PowerShell to install and register a password filter DLL. Requires a reboot and administrative privileges.
The binary in bin is https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/95140c1ad39fd632d1c1300b246293297aa272ce6035eecc3da56e337200221d/detection
Source is in src folder.
This does require a reboot to see the filter loaded into lsass.exe.
It does require Administrative privileges to import the clean registry values back into LSA, it is possible you may have to manually do this after for cleanup.
