CAPEC-644 Detail

An adversary obtains (i.e. steals or purchases) legitimate Windows domain credential hash values to access systems within the domain that leverage the Lan Man (LM) and/or NT Lan Man (NTLM) authentication protocols.

Execution Flow

1) Explore

[Acquire known Windows credential hash value pairs] The adversary must obtain known Windows credential hash value pairs of accounts that exist on the domain.

Technique

• An adversary purchases breached Windows credential hash value pairs from the dark web.
• An adversary conducts a sniffing attack to steal Windows credential hash value pairs as they are transmitted.
• An adversary gains access to a Windows domain system/files and exfiltrates Windows credential hash value pairs.
• An adversary examines outward-facing configuration and properties files to discover hardcoded Windows credential hash value pairs.

2) Experiment

[Attempt domain authentication] Try each Windows credential hash value pair until the target grants access.

Technique

• Manually or automatically enter each Windows credential hash value pair through the target's interface.

3) Exploit

[Impersonate] An adversary can use successful experiments or authentications to impersonate an authorized user or system, or to laterally move within the domain

4) Exploit

[Spoofing] Malicious data can be injected into the target system or into other systems on the domain. The adversary can also pose as a legitimate domain user to perform social engineering attacks.

5) Exploit

[Data Exfiltration] The adversary can obtain sensitive data contained within domain systems or applications.

Prerequisites

The system/application is connected to the Windows domain.
The system/application leverages the Lan Man (LM) and/or NT Lan Man (NTLM) authentication protocols.
The adversary possesses known Windows credential hash value pairs that exist on the target domain.

Skills Required

Once an adversary obtains a known Windows credential hash value pair, leveraging it is trivial.

Resources Required

A list of known Window credential hash value pairs for the targeted domain.

Mitigations

Prevent the use of Lan Man and NT Lan Man authentication on severs and apply patch KB2871997 to Windows 7 and higher systems.
Leverage multi-factor authentication for all authentication services and prior to granting an entity access to the domain network.
Monitor system and domain logs for abnormal credential access.
Create a strong password policy and ensure that your system enforces this policy.
Leverage system penetration testing and other defense in depth methods to determine vulnerable systems within a domain.

Related Weaknesses

References

REF-575

Attackers can use Zoom to steal users’ Windows credentials with no warning
Dan Goodin.
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/04/unpatched-zoom-bug-lets-attackers-steal-windows-credentials-with-no-warning/

REF-580

Operation Soft Cell: A Worldwide Campaign Against Telecommunications Providers
Mor Levi, Assaf Dahan, Amit Serper.
https://www.cybereason.com/blog/operation-soft-cell-a-worldwide-campaign-against-telecommunications-providers

REF-581

Mitigating Pass-the-Hash and Other Credential Theft v2
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/dn785092(v=msdn.10)?redirectedfrom=MSDN

REF-582

How Pass-the-Hash works
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/dn785092(v=msdn.10)?redirectedfrom=MSDN

REF-583

Pass-the-hash attacks: Tools and Mitigation
Bashar Ewaida.
https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/testing/paper/33283

Submission

Modifications