MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1110.002 Password Cracking

Published 2020-02-11 Modified 2026-05-12 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Credential Access
Platforms
Identity Provider, Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Office Suite, Windows
Version
1.4
Created
2020-02-11

Description

Adversaries may use password cracking to attempt to recover usable credentials, such as plaintext passwords, when credential material such as password hashes are obtained. OS Credential Dumping can be used to obtain password hashes, this may only get an adversary so far when Pass the Hash is not an option. Further, adversaries may leverage Data from Configuration Repository in order to obtain hashed credentials for network devices. Techniques to systematically guess the passwords used to compute hashes are available, or the adversary may use a pre-computed rainbow table to crack hashes. Cracking hashes is usually done on adversary-controlled systems outside of the target network. The resulting plaintext password resulting from a successfully cracked hash may be used to log into systems, resources, and services in which the account has access.

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1110 Brute Force technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • TA0006 Credential Access tactic

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (2)

  • M1032 Multi-factor Authentication mitigation
  • M1027 Password Policies mitigation

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (8)

  • C0064 AI-Assisted Breach of Mexico's Government Infrastructure campaign
  • C0063 2025 Poland Wiper Attacks campaign
  • G1045 Salt Typhoon group
  • C0002 Night Dragon campaign
  • G0022 APT3 group
  • G0035 Dragonfly group
  • G0037 FIN6 group
  • S0056 Net Crawler software (malware)

Referenced by CAPEC · att&ck technique (1)

  • CAPEC-55 Rainbow Table Password Cracking attack pattern

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (17)

  • CIS-5.2 Use Unique Passwords CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-6.3 Require MFA for Externally-Exposed Applications CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-6.5 Require MFA for Administrative Access CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • NIST-AC-2 Account Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-20 Use of External Systems NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-3 Access Enforcement NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-5 Separation of Duties NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-6 Least Privilege NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-7 Unsuccessful Logon Attempts NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CA-7 Continuous Monitoring NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-2 Baseline Configuration NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-6 Configuration Settings NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-11 Re-authentication NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-2 Identification and Authentication (Organizational Users) NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-4 Identifier Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-5 Authenticator Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-4 System Monitoring NIST 800-53 control

References