MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1134.001 Token Impersonation/Theft

Published 2020-02-18 Modified 2026-05-12 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Stealth, Privilege Escalation
Platforms
Windows
Version
2.0
Created
2020-02-18

Description

Adversaries may duplicate then impersonate another user's existing token to escalate privileges and bypass access controls. For example, an adversary can duplicate an existing token using `DuplicateToken` or `DuplicateTokenEx`. The token can then be used with `ImpersonateLoggedOnUser` to allow the calling thread to impersonate a logged on user's security context, or with `SetThreadToken` to assign the impersonated token to a thread. An adversary may perform Token Impersonation/Theft when they have a specific, existing process they want to assign the duplicated token to. For example, this may be useful for when the target user has a non-network logon session on the system. When an adversary would instead use a duplicated token to create a new process rather than attaching to an existing process, they can additionally Create Process with Token using `CreateProcessWithTokenW` or `CreateProcessAsUserW`. Token Impersonation/Theft is also distinct from Make and Impersonate Token in that it refers to duplicating an existing token, rather than creating a new one.

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1134 Access Token Manipulation technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (2)

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (2)

  • M1018 User Account Management mitigation
  • M1026 Privileged Account Management mitigation

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (21)

  • S9057 CRASHPAD software (malware)
  • S9036 LP-Notes software (malware)
  • S9033 Fooder software (malware)
  • S1229 Havoc software (malware)
  • C0038 HomeLand Justice campaign
  • S1081 BADHATCH software (malware)
  • S1011 Tarrask software (malware)
  • S0692 SILENTTRINITY software (tool)
  • S0623 Siloscape software (malware)
  • S0570 BitPaymer software (malware)
  • S0603 Stuxnet software (malware)
  • S0496 REvil software (malware)
  • S0456 Aria-body software (malware)
  • S0439 Okrum software (malware)
  • S0367 Emotet software (malware)
  • G0061 FIN8 group
  • S0192 Pupy software (tool)
  • S0182 FinFisher software (malware)
  • S0154 Cobalt Strike software (malware)
  • G0007 APT28 group
  • S0140 Shamoon software (malware)

Referenced by CAPEC · att&ck technique (1)

  • CAPEC-60 Reusing Session IDs (aka Session Replay) attack pattern

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (9)

  • CIS-6.8 Define and Maintain Role-Based Access Control CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • NIST-AC-2 Account Management 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-CM-5 Access Restrictions for Change NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-6 Configuration Settings NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-13 Identity Providers and Authorization Servers NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-2 Identification and Authentication (Organizational Users) NIST 800-53 control

References