Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash
Other sub-techniques of Use Alternate Authentication Material (4)
ID | Name |
---|---|
T1550.001 | Application Access Token |
T1550.002 | Pass the Hash |
T1550.003 | Pass the Ticket |
T1550.004 | Web Session Cookie |
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. In this technique, 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.
Windows 7 and higher with KB2871997 require valid domain user credentials or RID 500 administrator hashes.[1]
Procedure Examples
Name | Description |
---|---|
APT1 | |
APT28 | |
APT32 | |
Cobalt Strike |
Cobalt Strike can perform pass the hash.[5] |
CrackMapExec |
CrackMapExec can pass the hash to authenticate via SMB.[6] |
Empire | |
HOPLIGHT |
HOPLIGHT has been observed loading several APIs associated with Pass the Hash.[8] |
Mimikatz |
Mimikatz's |
Night Dragon |
Night Dragon used pass-the-hash tools to gain usernames and passwords.[11] |
Pass-The-Hash Toolkit |
Pass-The-Hash Toolkit can perform pass the hash.[2] |
PoshC2 |
PoshC2 has a number of modules that leverage pass the hash for lateral movement.[12] |
Soft Cell |
Soft Cell used dumped hashes to authenticate to other machines via pass the hash.[13] |
Mitigations
Mitigation | Description |
---|---|
Privileged Account Management |
Limit credential overlap across systems to prevent the damage of credential compromise and reduce the adversary's ability to perform Lateral Movement between systems. |
Update Software |
Apply patch KB2871997 to Windows 7 and higher systems to limit the default access of accounts in the local administrator group. |
User Account Control |
Enable pass the hash mitigations to apply UAC restrictions to local accounts on network logon. The associated Registry key is located Through GPO: Computer Configuration > [Policies] > Administrative Templates > SCM: Pass the Hash Mitigations: Apply UAC restrictions to local accounts on network logons.[14] |
User Account Management |
Do not allow a domain user to be in the local administrator group on multiple systems. |
Detection
Audit all logon and credential use events and review for discrepancies. Unusual remote logins that correlate with other suspicious activity (such as writing and executing binaries) may indicate malicious activity. NTLM LogonType 3 authentications that are not associated to a domain login and are not anonymous logins are suspicious.
References
- National Security Agency/Central Security Service Information Assurance Directorate. (2015, August 7). Spotting the Adversary with Windows Event Log Monitoring. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- Mandiant. (n.d.). APT1 Exposing One of China’s Cyber Espionage Units. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
- Anthe, C. et al. (2015, October 19). Microsoft Security Intelligence Report Volume 19. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- Dahan, A. (2017). Operation Cobalt Kitty. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- Cobalt Strike. (2017, December 8). Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- byt3bl33d3r. (2018, September 8). SMB: Command Reference. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- Schroeder, W., Warner, J., Nelson, M. (n.d.). Github PowerShellEmpire. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- US-CERT. (2019, April 10). MAR-10135536-8 – North Korean Trojan: HOPLIGHT. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- Metcalf, S. (2015, November 13). Unofficial Guide to Mimikatz & Command Reference. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS), the New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre (NZ NCSC), CERT New Zealand, the UK National Cyber Security Centre (UK NCSC) and the US National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC). (2018, October 11). Joint report on publicly available hacking tools. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
- McAfee® Foundstone® Professional Services and McAfee Labs™. (2011, February 10). Global Energy Cyberattacks: “Night Dragon”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- Nettitude. (2018, July 23). Python Server for PoshC2. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- Cybereason Nocturnus. (2019, June 25). Operation Soft Cell: A Worldwide Campaign Against Telecommunications Providers. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- NSA IAD. (2017, January 24). MS Security Guide. Retrieved December 18, 2017.