Detect Windows Credential Manager in Microsoft Sentinel
Adversaries may acquire credentials from the Windows Credential Manager. The Credential Manager stores credentials for signing into websites, applications, and devices that request authentication through NTLM or Kerberos in Credential Lockers (previously known as Windows Vaults). Credentials are stored as encrypted .vcrd files under %Systemdrive%\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\[Vault/Credentials]\. Adversaries may enumerate credentials via vaultcmd.exe, cmdkey.exe, Windows APIs (CredEnumerateA), or extract credential backups via rundll32.exe keymgr.dll KRShowKeyMgr. Tools like Mimikatz (vault::cred, vault::list) and PowerSploit can also harvest Credential Manager contents.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Credential Access
- Technique
- T1555 Credentials from Password Stores
- Sub-technique
- T1555.004 Windows Credential Manager
- Canonical reference
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1555/004/
KQL Detection Query
let VaultCommands = dynamic(["vaultcmd /listcreds", "vaultcmd /list", "cmdkey /list", "rundll32.exe keymgr.dll", "KRShowKeyMgr", "Invoke-WCMDump", "vault::cred", "vault::list", "dpapi::cred", "CredEnumerateA", "CredEnumerateW", "Get-VaultCredential"]);
DeviceProcessEvents
| where Timestamp > ago(24h)
| where ProcessCommandLine has_any (VaultCommands)
or (FileName =~ "vaultcmd.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has_any ("/listcreds", "/list"))
or (FileName =~ "cmdkey.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has "/list")
or (FileName =~ "rundll32.exe" and ProcessCommandLine has "keymgr.dll")
| extend VaultEnum = ProcessCommandLine has_any ("vaultcmd", "vault::list")
| extend CmdkeyEnum = ProcessCommandLine has "cmdkey /list"
| extend MimikatzVault = ProcessCommandLine has_any ("vault::cred", "dpapi::cred")
| extend CredBackup = ProcessCommandLine has "keymgr.dll"
| project Timestamp, DeviceName, AccountName, FileName, ProcessCommandLine,
InitiatingProcessFileName, InitiatingProcessCommandLine,
VaultEnum, CmdkeyEnum, MimikatzVault, CredBackup
| sort by Timestamp descDetects Windows Credential Manager and Vault enumeration using native utilities (vaultcmd.exe, cmdkey.exe), credential backup via rundll32.exe keymgr.dll, Mimikatz vault/dpapi modules, and PowerShell-based tools like Invoke-WCMDump. Covers techniques used by OilRig (VALUEVAULT), Turla, Wizard Spider, and Mimikatz for credential harvesting from Windows Credential Lockers.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- System administrators using cmdkey /list to audit stored credentials during troubleshooting
- IT helpdesk scripts that check credential store status for remote access configuration
- Endpoint management tools that enumerate credentials as part of compliance checks
- Windows system processes that interact with Credential Manager during authentication flows
Other platforms for T1555.004
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 1Enumerate stored credentials with cmdkey
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=cmdkey.exe, CommandLine='cmdkey /list'. Security Event ID 4688 with same details. Security Event ID 5379 if Credential Validation auditing is enabled.
- Test 2Enumerate vault credentials with vaultcmd
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=vaultcmd.exe, CommandLine containing '/listcreds'. Security Event ID 4688 with command line.
- Test 3Export credential backup via keymgr.dll
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1: Process Create with Image=rundll32.exe, CommandLine='rundll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr'. The GUI will open for user interaction.
References (6)
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1555/004/
- https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2016/01/the-windows-vaults/
- https://github.com/gentilkiwi/mimikatz/wiki/howto-~-credential-manager-saved-credentials
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/wincred/nf-wincred-credenumeratea
- https://www.passcape.com/windows_password_recovery_vault_explorer
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1555.004/T1555.004.md
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