Detect Credentials in Registry in Splunk
Adversaries may search the Windows Registry on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials. The Registry stores configuration data used by programs for automatic logons, saved passwords, and service credentials. Common registry credential locations include: Windows AutoLogon (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\DefaultPassword), PuTTY saved sessions (SOFTWARE\SimonTatham\Putty\Sessions), Outlook profiles (HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Profiles), VNC passwords (SOFTWARE\{TightVNC,RealVNC,UltraVNC}), and SNMP community strings. TrickBot, APT32, IceApple, Valak, and StrelaStealer have all abused registry credential storage.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Credential Access
- Technique
- T1552 Unsecured Credentials
- Sub-technique
- T1552.002 Credentials in Registry
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/002/
SPL Detection Query
index=wineventlog sourcetype="XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational"
(
(EventCode=13
(TargetObject="*\\Winlogon\\DefaultPassword*" OR TargetObject="*\\Winlogon\\AutoAdminLogon*")
| eval AlertType="AutoLogon_Credential"
| table _time, host, User, Image, TargetObject, Details, AlertType)
OR
(EventCode=1
(Image="*\\reg.exe")
(CommandLine="*query*" AND (CommandLine="*/f password*" OR CommandLine="*/f passwd*" OR CommandLine="*/f pwd*"))
| eval AlertType="RegQuery_PasswordSearch"
| table _time, host, User, Image, CommandLine, AlertType)
OR
(EventCode=1
(Image="*\\powershell.exe" OR Image="*\\pwsh.exe")
(CommandLine="*Get-RegistryAutoLogon*" OR CommandLine="*Find-GPOPassword*" OR CommandLine="*Get-SiteListPassword*" OR
CommandLine="*Get-CachedGPPPassword*" OR (CommandLine="*Get-ItemProperty*" AND CommandLine="*password*"))
| eval AlertType="PowerSploit_CredRegistry"
| table _time, host, User, Image, CommandLine, AlertType)
OR
(EventCode=12 OR EventCode=13)
(TargetObject="*SimonTatham*" OR TargetObject="*PuTTY*" OR TargetObject="*Outlook*Profiles*" OR TargetObject="*VNC*Password*")
NOT (Image IN ("*\\putty.exe", "*\\OUTLOOK.EXE", "*\\tvnserver.exe"))
| eval AlertType="ThirdPartyCredRead"
| table _time, host, User, Image, TargetObject, AlertType
)
| sort - _timeDetects registry credential access using Sysmon events. Covers four patterns: AutoLogon DefaultPassword key access (Event 13), reg.exe password search commands (Event 1), PowerSploit credential harvesting modules (Event 1), and registry key access to third-party credential stores (PuTTY sessions, Outlook profiles, VNC passwords) from unexpected processes (Events 12/13).
Data Sources
Required Sourcetypes
False Positives & Tuning
- AutoLogon configuration tools reading/writing DefaultPassword for kiosk setup
- PuTTY accessing its own saved session credentials
- Microsoft Outlook accessing its own profile credential storage
- IT inventory tools auditing registry credential storage
- Authorized security assessment tools checking for insecure credential storage
Other platforms for T1552.002
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 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 1Query Registry for AutoLogon Credentials
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: reg.exe with 'query' and 'DefaultPassword'. Security Event ID 4663 (Object Access) if registry auditing enabled for this key. The returned value (if present) is the plaintext password.
- Test 2Bulk Registry Password Search with reg.exe
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: reg.exe with 'query HKLM /f password /t REG_SZ /s'. The command will iterate through the entire HKLM hive, generating multiple registry access events. Output shows all registry paths containing 'password'.
- Test 3Query PuTTY Saved Session Credentials
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: reg.exe with 'query' and 'SimonTatham'. Registry access events for each PuTTY session key. Output includes HostName, UserName, and connection parameters for each saved session.
- Test 4PowerSploit Get-RegistryAutoLogon
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: powershell.exe with 'Get-RegistryAutoLogon'. Sysmon Event ID 7: PowerSploit module DLL loaded. Registry access to Winlogon key. PowerShell ScriptBlock Log Event ID 4104 with function content.
References (6)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/002/
- https://pentestlab.blog/2017/04/19/stored-credentials/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/security-policy-settings/network-access-do-not-allow-storage-of-passwords-and-credentials-for-network-authentication
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1552.002/T1552.002.md
- https://github.com/PowerShellMafia/PowerSploit/blob/master/Exfiltration/Get-GPPPassword.ps1
- https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/19/b/trickbot-adds-new-features-targets-energy-enterprises.html
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for T1552.002 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.