Detect Windows Credential Manager in Splunk
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/
SPL Detection Query
index=wineventlog sourcetype="XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational" EventCode=1
((Image="*\\vaultcmd.exe" AND (CommandLine="*/listcreds*" OR CommandLine="*/list*"))
OR (Image="*\\cmdkey.exe" AND CommandLine="*/list*")
OR (Image="*\\rundll32.exe" AND CommandLine="*keymgr.dll*")
OR CommandLine="*Invoke-WCMDump*"
OR CommandLine="*vault::cred*"
OR CommandLine="*vault::list*"
OR CommandLine="*dpapi::cred*"
OR CommandLine="*Get-VaultCredential*"
OR CommandLine="*CredEnumerateA*"
OR CommandLine="*CredEnumerateW*")
| eval VaultEnum=if(match(Image, "(?i)vaultcmd") OR match(CommandLine, "vault::list"), 1, 0)
| eval CmdkeyEnum=if(match(CommandLine, "(?i)cmdkey.*/list"), 1, 0)
| eval MimikatzVault=if(match(CommandLine, "(vault::cred|dpapi::cred)"), 1, 0)
| eval CredBackup=if(match(CommandLine, "(?i)keymgr\.dll"), 1, 0)
| eval SuspicionScore=VaultEnum + CmdkeyEnum + MimikatzVault*3 + CredBackup*2
| where SuspicionScore > 0
| table _time, host, User, Image, CommandLine, ParentImage, ParentCommandLine, VaultEnum, CmdkeyEnum, MimikatzVault, CredBackup, SuspicionScore
| sort - _timeDetects Windows Credential Manager credential harvesting via Sysmon process creation events. Identifies native utilities (vaultcmd, cmdkey), Mimikatz vault/dpapi modules (weighted highest), credential backup via keymgr.dll, and PowerShell-based credential dumpers. Scoring prioritizes known offensive tool patterns over native utility usage.
Data Sources
Required Sourcetypes
False Positives & Tuning
- System administrators using cmdkey /list to audit stored credentials
- IT helpdesk scripts checking credential store status
- Endpoint management tools enumerating credentials for compliance
- Windows system processes during normal authentication
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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