Detect Windows Credential Manager in Sumo Logic CSE
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/
Sumo Detection Query
(_sourceCategory=windows/sysmon OR _sourceCategory=windows/security OR _sourceCategory=*WinEventLog*)
| where EventID = "1" OR EventID = "4688"
| where CommandLine contains "vaultcmd" OR CommandLine contains "cmdkey" OR CommandLine contains "keymgr.dll" OR CommandLine contains "Invoke-WCMDump" OR CommandLine contains "vault::cred" OR CommandLine contains "vault::list" OR CommandLine contains "dpapi::cred" OR CommandLine contains "Get-VaultCredential" OR CommandLine contains "CredEnumerateA" OR CommandLine contains "CredEnumerateW" OR CommandLine contains "KRShowKeyMgr"
| eval VaultEnum = if(CommandLine matches "(?i)(vaultcmd|vault::list)", 1, 0)
| eval CmdkeyEnum = if(CommandLine matches "(?i)cmdkey.*/list", 1, 0)
| eval MimikatzVault = if(CommandLine matches "(?i)(vault::cred|dpapi::cred)", 1, 0)
| eval CredBackup = if(CommandLine matches "(?i)keymgr[.]dll", 1, 0)
| eval SuspicionScore = VaultEnum + CmdkeyEnum + (MimikatzVault * 3) + (CredBackup * 2)
| where SuspicionScore > 0
| fields _messageTime, Computer, User, Image, CommandLine, ParentImage, VaultEnum, CmdkeyEnum, MimikatzVault, CredBackup, SuspicionScore
| sort by _messageTime descDetects Windows Credential Manager enumeration in Sumo Logic from Sysmon EventID 1 and Windows Security EventID 4688 process creation logs. Applies regex-based behavioral tagging and suspicion scoring to classify vault enumeration via vaultcmd, cmdkey /list abuse, Mimikatz vault/dpapi modules (scored 3x), and keymgr.dll credential backup extraction (scored 2x). Mirrors the SPL triage logic for consistent cross-platform analyst workflow.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Remote desktop configuration automation using cmdkey to store credentials for unattended RDP connections across managed endpoints
- Enterprise software deployment tools invoking vaultcmd to validate credential state during workstation lifecycle provisioning
- Security products performing credential health checks or inventory scans that reference keymgr.dll or enumerate Credential Manager entries as part of their normal operation
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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