t1555-005-password-managers

name	T1555.005_password-managers
description	Adversaries may acquire user credentials from third-party password managers.
category	authentication
version	18.1
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["mitre-attack","enterprise","t1555.005","credential-access","linux","macos","windows","sub-technique"]
technique_id	T1555.005
tactic	credential-access
all_tactics	["credential-access"]
platforms	["Linux","macOS","Windows"]
mitre_url	https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1555/005
tech_stack	["linux","macos","windows"]
cwe_ids	["CWE-522"]
chains_with	["T1555","T1555.001","T1555.002","T1555.003","T1555.004","T1555.006"]
prerequisites	["T1555"]
severity_boost	{"T1555":"Chain with T1555 for deeper attack path","T1555.001":"Chain with T1555.001 for deeper attack path","T1555.002":"Chain with T1555.002 for deeper attack path"}

T1555.005 Password Managers

Sub-technique of: T1555

High-Level Description

Adversaries may acquire user credentials from third-party password managers. Password managers are applications designed to store user credentials, normally in an encrypted database. Credentials are typically accessible after a user provides a master password that unlocks the database. After the database is unlocked, these credentials may be copied to memory. These databases can be stored as files on disk.

Adversaries may acquire user credentials from password managers by extracting the master password and/or plain-text credentials from memory. Adversaries may extract credentials from memory via Exploitation for Credential Access. Adversaries may also try brute forcing via Password Guessing to obtain the master password of a password manager.

Kill Chain Phase

• Credential Access (TA0006)

Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows

What to Check

• Identify if Password Managers technique is applicable to target environment
• Check Linux systems for indicators of Password Managers
• Check macOS systems for indicators of Password Managers
• Check Windows systems for indicators of Password Managers
• Verify mitigations are bypassed or absent (5 known mitigations)
• Assess detection coverage (1 detection strategies)

How to Test

Manual Testing

1. Identify Attack Surface: Determine if the target environment is susceptible to Password Managers by examining the target platforms (Linux, macOS, Windows).

2. Assess Existing Defenses: Review whether mitigations for T1555.005 are in place. If defenses are absent or misconfigured, this technique may be exploitable.

3. Execute Test: Use tools and methods described in the MITRE ATT&CK page and external references below.

Note: No Atomic Red Team tests available for this technique. See Atomic Red Team GitHub for updates.

Remediation Guide

M1051 Update Software

Regularly update web browsers, password managers, and all related software to the latest versions. Keeping software up-to-date reduces the risk of vulnerabilities being exploited by attackers to extract stored credentials or session cookies.