title: Windows Credential Manager (T1555.004)
id: df00tech-t1555-004
status: experimental
description: "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."
references:
  - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1555/004/
  - https://df00tech.com/detections/T1555.004
author: df00tech
date: 2026/04/13
tags:
  - attack.t1555.004
# NOTE: logsource is auto-derived and may need adjustment for your environment
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  # This detection logic could not be auto-translated; see the KQL/SPL query on df00tech.
  selection:
    EventID: '*'
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - 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
level: high