Access To Windows Credential History File By Uncommon Applications

Detects file access requests to the Windows Credential History File by an uncommon application. This can be a sign of credential stealing. Example case would be usage of mimikatz "dpapi::credhist" function

title: Access To Windows Credential History File By Uncommon Applications
id: 7a2a22ea-a203-4cd3-9abf-20eb1c5c6cd2
status: test
description: |
    Detects file access requests to the Windows Credential History File by an uncommon application.
    This can be a sign of credential stealing. Example case would be usage of mimikatz "dpapi::credhist" function
references:
    - https://tools.thehacker.recipes/mimikatz/modules/dpapi/credhist
    - https://www.passcape.com/windows_password_recovery_dpapi_credhist
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-10-17
modified: 2024-07-29
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1555.004
logsource:
    category: file_access
    product: windows
    definition: 'Requirements: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-File ETW provider'
detection:
    selection:
        FileName|endswith: '\Microsoft\Protect\CREDHIST'
    filter_main_system_folders:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files\'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
            - 'C:\Windows\system32\'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
    filter_main_explorer:
        Image: 'C:\Windows\explorer.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
# Increase level after false positives filters are good enough
level: medium

• T1555.004Windows Credential Manager

• https://tools.thehacker.recipes/mimikatz/modules/dpapi/credhist↗
• https://www.passcape.com/windows_password_recovery_dpapi_credhist↗