MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1555.004 Windows Credential Manager

Published 2020-11-23 Modified 2025-10-24 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Credential Access
Platforms
Windows
Version
1.1
Created
2020-11-23

Description

Adversaries may acquire credentials from the Windows Credential Manager. The Credential Manager stores credentials for signing into websites, applications, and/or devices that request authentication through NTLM or Kerberos in Credential Lockers (previously known as Windows Vaults). The Windows Credential Manager separates website credentials from application or network credentials in two lockers. As part of Credentials from Web Browsers, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge website credentials are managed by the Credential Manager and are stored in the Web Credentials locker. Application and network credentials are stored in the Windows Credentials locker. Credential Lockers store credentials in encrypted `.vcrd` files, located under `%Systemdrive%\Users\\[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\\[Vault/Credentials]\`. The encryption key can be found in a file named Policy.vpol, typically located in the same folder as the credentials. Adversaries may list credentials managed by the Windows Credential Manager through several mechanisms. vaultcmd.exe is a native Windows executable that can be used to enumerate credentials stored in the Credential Locker through a command-line interface. Adversaries may also gather credentials by directly reading files located inside of the Credential Lockers. Windows APIs, such as CredEnumerateA, may also be absued to list credentials managed by the Credential Manager. Adversaries may also obtain credentials from credential backups. Credential backups and restorations may be performed by running rundll32.exe keymgr.dll KRShowKeyMgr then selecting the “Back up...” button on the “Stored User Names and Passwords” GUI. Password recovery tools may also obtain plain text passwords from the Credential Manager.

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1555 Credentials from Password Stores technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • TA0006 Credential Access tactic

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (1)

  • M1042 Disable or Remove Feature or Program mitigation

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (14)

  • C0044 Juicy Mix campaign
  • S0692 SILENTTRINITY software (tool)
  • S0681 Lizar software (malware)
  • S0629 RainyDay software (malware)
  • S0526 KGH_SPY software (malware)
  • S0476 Valak software (malware)
  • G0102 Wizard Spider group
  • S0349 LaZagne software (tool)
  • S0240 ROKRAT software (malware)
  • S0194 PowerSploit software (tool)
  • G0049 OilRig group
  • G0010 Turla group
  • G0038 Stealth Falcon group
  • S0002 Mimikatz software (tool)

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (6)

  • CIS-4.11 Enforce Remote Wipe Capability on Portable End-User Devices CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • NIST-CM-2 Baseline Configuration NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-6 Configuration Settings NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-7 Least Functionality NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-5 Authenticator Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-4 System Monitoring NIST 800-53 control

References