Detect LSASS Memory in Elastic Security
Adversaries access credential material stored in the LSASS process memory. After logon, Windows stores credentials (NTLM hashes, Kerberos tickets, plaintext passwords via WDigest) in LSASS. Tools used include Mimikatz, ProcDump, comsvcs.dll MiniDump (rundll32.exe C:\Windows\System32\comsvcs.dll MiniDump), WerFault silent process exit, and Cobalt Strike's sekurlsa module. Used extensively by APT1, APT33, OilRig, HAFNIUM, Volt Typhoon, NotPetya, Cobalt Strike operators, and many others. Highest-frequency credential dumping technique observed in the wild.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Credential Access
- Technique
- T1003 OS Credential Dumping
- Sub-technique
- T1003.001 LSASS Memory
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/001/
Elastic Detection Query
sequence by host.name with maxspan=5m
[process where event.type == "start" and
(
(process.name : "rundll32.exe" and process.args : "*comsvcs*" and process.args : "*MiniDump*") or
(process.name : ("procdump.exe", "procdump64.exe") and process.args : "*lsass*") or
(process.name : ("mimikatz.exe", "mimilib.dll", "wce.exe", "gsecdump.exe"))
)
] by process.pid
any where true
/* Supplemental: direct LSASS process access */
[process where event.type == "access" and
target.process.name : "lsass.exe" and
not process.name : (
"MsMpEng.exe", "csrss.exe", "services.exe", "lsm.exe",
"svchost.exe", "winlogon.exe", "wmiprvse.exe", "wininit.exe",
"SecurityHealthService.exe", "SenseIR.exe"
)
]Detects LSASS credential dumping via known tools (Mimikatz, ProcDump, comsvcs MiniDump) and suspicious direct process access to lsass.exe using Sysmon EID 10 data ingested into Elastic. Covers the three primary attack vectors: tool-based dumping, DLL-based miniDump via rundll32, and direct memory access with elevated access masks.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate Windows Error Reporting (WerFault.exe) accessing LSASS during crash reporting — verify process lineage and access mask
- Antivirus or EDR solutions (e.g., Defender MsMpEng, CrowdStrike) performing scheduled memory scans — cross-reference against known security tool inventory
- Task Manager (taskmgr.exe) opened by an administrator to view process memory — correlate with interactive logon session and user role
Other platforms for T1003.001
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1LSASS Dump via comsvcs.dll MiniDump (LOLBin)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for rundll32.exe with CommandLine containing comsvcs.dll MiniDump. Sysmon Event ID 10: ProcessAccess for lsass.exe from rundll32.exe with GrantedAccess=0x1fffff. Sysmon Event ID 11: FileCreate for the .dmp file in C:\Windows\Temp\.
- Test 2LSASS Access via PowerShell Reflection (Mimikatz-Style)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 10: ProcessAccess with TargetImage=lsass.exe, SourceImage=powershell.exe. The GrantedAccess value depends on the access requested by Get-Process. Security Event ID 4656/4663 if process object auditing is enabled.
- Test 3LSASS Dump via ProcDump
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 10: ProcessAccess with TargetImage=lsass.exe, SourceImage=procdump.exe, GrantedAccess=0x1fffff. Sysmon Event ID 11: FileCreate for lsass_pd_test.dmp. Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create for procdump.exe with lsass.exe in CommandLine.
References (7)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/001/
- https://medium.com/threatpunter/detecting-attempts-to-steal-passwords-from-memory-558f16dce4ea
- https://www.volexity.com/blog/2021/03/02/active-exploitation-of-microsoft-exchange-zero-day-vulnerabilities/
- https://www.deepinstinct.com/blog/lsass-memory-dumps-are-stealthier-than-ever-before-part-2
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1003.001/T1003.001.md
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/credential-guard/credential-guard
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/security/credentials-protection-and-management/configuring-additional-lsa-protection
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