Adversaries may modify access tokens to operate under a different user or system security context to perform actions and bypass access controls. Windows uses access tokens to determine the ownership of a running process. A user can manipulate access tokens to make a running process appear as though it is the child of a different process or belongs to someone other than the user that started the process. When this occurs, the process also takes on the security context associated with the new token.
An adversary can use built-in Windows API functions to copy access tokens from existing processes; this is known as token stealing. These token can then be applied to an existing process (i.e. Token Impersonation/Theft) or used to spawn a new process (i.e. Create Process with Token). An adversary must already be in a privileged user context (i.e. administrator) to steal a token. However, adversaries commonly use token stealing to elevate their security context from the administrator level to the SYSTEM level. An adversary can then use a token to authenticate to a remote system as the account for that token if the account has appropriate permissions on the remote system.(Citation: Pentestlab Token Manipulation)
Any standard user can use the <code>runas</code> command, and the Windows API functions, to create impersonation tokens; it does not require access to an administrator account. There are also other mechanisms, such as Active Directory fields, that can be used to modify access tokens.
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| intel-tdt | Intel Threat Detection Technology | CrowdStrike AMS | T1134 | Access Token Manipulation |
Comments
Intel Threat Detection Technology (TDT), combined with CrowdStrike Falcon Accelerated Memory Scanning (CAMS), enhances cybersecurity defenses by enabling faster, real-time detection of "Access Token Manipulation" exploits. This integrated solution strengthens CrowdStrike Falcon, improving its ability to detect and mitigate cyber threats earlier in the kill chain, all while minimizing system performance impact.
"Create Process" exploits involve adversaries using the Windows API to create a process under the security context of another user, often leveraging stolen credentials or escalated privileges to execute malicious code. Intel TDT plays a crucial role in identifying these threats by providing real-time telemetry on program execution, memory access, and control flow, enabling rapid detection of abnormal behaviors that could indicate misuse of the “Create Process” API for unauthorized actions.
Additionally, CAMS offloads the memory scanning workload from the CPU to the Intel Integrated GPU, allowing for faster, more efficient detection of malicious activity without degrading system performance. CAMS helps identify suspicious behaviors, such as the creation of unauthorized processes or attempts for token manipulation that function to bypass security controls and execute malicious code.
References
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| Technique ID | Technique Name | Number of Mappings |
|---|---|---|
| T1134.002 | Create Process with Token | 1 |