MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1550.002 Pass the Hash

Published 2020-01-30 Modified 2026-05-12 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Lateral Movement
Platforms
Windows
Version
2.0
Created
2020-01-30

Description

Adversaries may “pass the hash” using stolen password hashes to move laterally within an environment, bypassing normal system access controls. Pass the hash (PtH) is a method of authenticating as a user without having access to the user's cleartext password. This method bypasses standard authentication steps that require a cleartext password, moving directly into the portion of the authentication that uses the password hash. When performing PtH, valid password hashes for the account being used are captured using a Credential Access technique. Captured hashes are used with PtH to authenticate as that user. Once authenticated, PtH may be used to perform actions on local or remote systems. Adversaries may also use stolen password hashes to "overpass the hash." Similar to PtH, this involves using a password hash to authenticate as a user but also uses the password hash to create a valid Kerberos ticket. This ticket can then be used to perform Pass the Ticket attacks.

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1550 Use Alternate Authentication Material technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • TA0008 Lateral Movement tactic

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (4)

  • M1051 Update Software mitigation
  • M1052 User Account Control mitigation
  • M1018 User Account Management mitigation
  • M1026 Privileged Account Management mitigation

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (22)

  • C0063 2025 Poland Wiper Attacks campaign
  • C0061 Operation Digital Eye campaign
  • S1081 BADHATCH software (malware)
  • G1016 FIN13 group
  • C0002 Night Dragon campaign
  • G1003 Ember Bear group
  • G0143 Aquatic Panda group
  • G0114 Chimera group
  • S0488 CrackMapExec software (tool)
  • G0102 Wizard Spider group
  • G0096 APT41 group
  • G0094 Kimsuky group
  • G0093 GALLIUM group
  • S0378 PoshC2 software (tool)
  • S0376 HOPLIGHT software (malware)
  • S0363 Empire software (tool)
  • G0050 APT32 group
  • S0154 Cobalt Strike software (malware)
  • G0006 APT1 group
  • G0007 APT28 group
  • S0002 Mimikatz software (tool)
  • S0122 Pass-The-Hash Toolkit software (tool)

Referenced by CAPEC · att&ck technique (1)

  • CAPEC-644 Use of Captured Hashes (Pass The Hash) attack pattern

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (11)

  • CIS-6.8 Define and Maintain Role-Based Access Control CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-7.3 Perform Automated Operating System Patch Management CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-7.7 Remediate Detected Vulnerabilities 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-2 Identification and Authentication (Organizational Users) NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-2 Flaw Remediation NIST 800-53 control

References